Common Mental Disorders and Economic Uncertainty: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260726
• Publication Date: 2021-12-02T19:25:10Z
• Authors: Wing Wah Tham; Elvira Sojli; Richard Bryant; Michael McAleer
• Keywords: Mental distress

Mental health disorders represent an enormous cost to society, are related economic outcomes, and have increased markedly since the COVID-19 outbreak. Economic activity contracted dramatically on a global scale in 2020, representing worst crisis Great Depression. This study used COVID Impact Survey provide insights interactions of mental illness uncertainty during COVID-19. We probability-based panel survey, Survey, conducted U.S. over three waves period April-June 2020. The survey covered individual information employment, financial uncertainty, physical health, as well other demographic information. prevalence moderate distress was measured using Psychological Distress Scale, 5-item that is scored 4-point (total range: 0-15). effect economic, assessed logit regression analysis conditioning for It found coverage, social security, food provision additional stressors health. These factors work addition effects, where groups who display risk psychological include: women, Hispanics, those poor A decrease employment increases associated with doubling common disorders. population-representative evidence presented strongly suggests policies which support (e.g., job keeping, search support, stimulus spending) not only security but also constitute major intervention. Moving forward, ought be reflected community level intervention prevention efforts, should include strengthening reduce strain.