Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 8.5% of U.S. adults reported suffering from depression. With the ongoing pandemic, the amount experiencing depression has tripled to 1 on 4 American adults, according to a study from Boston University (BU) School of Public Health published in JAMA Network Open.
“Depression in the general population after prior large-scale traumatic events has been observed to, at most, double,” said senior author of the study professor Sandro Galea, dean at Boston University School of Public Health.
The number of American adults reporting having depression has increased to 27.8% during the pandemic, according to the study. Adults across all demographics have reported an increase in depression, with those who have less than $5,000 in savings more likely to experience symptoms of depression than those with more than $5,000 in savings.
Past crises also show depression increasing, such as after the 9/11 attack and when Ebola emerged in the U.S.
In the new study, researchers used the 2017-2018 National and Nutrition Examination Survey to collect data from 5,065 respondents. Results were compared with the COVID-19 and Life Stressors Impact on Mental Health and Well-being study (CLIMB), which collected data from 1,441 American adults from March 31 to April 13 of this year, according to the study.
While the second study showed an increase in depression, it had been completed before 96% of the public had been placed under stay-at-home orders.
CLIMB participants were surveyed on a number of demographics, with financial well-being being the most predominant stressor for depression.
“Persons who were already at risk before COVID-19, with fewer social and economic resources, were more likely to report probable depression,” lead study author Catherine Ettman said.
Those with a savings of less than $5,000 were 50% more likely to experience depression.
Errman said there could be ways for officials to work on lessening the emotional toll for U.S. adults.
“There may be steps that policymakers can take now to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 stressors on depression, such as eviction moratoria, providing universal health insurance that is not tied to employment, and helping people return to work safely – for those able to do so,” Ettman said.
