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COVID-19-Related Stressors and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms in a Northeast US Sample

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  • Mollie A. Monnig

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Samantha E. Clark

    (Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Jaqueline C. Avila

    (Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Alexander W. Sokolovsky

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Hayley Treloar Padovano

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Kimberly Goodyear

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Elizabeth R. Aston

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Carolina L. Haass-Koffler

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Jennifer W. Tidey

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Peter M. Monti

    (Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
    Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

Abstract

Research has linked specific COVID-19-related stressors to the mental health burden, yet most previous studies have examined only a limited number of stressors and have paid little attention to their clinical significance. This study tested the hypothesis that individuals who reported greater COVID-19-related stressors would be more likely to have elevated levels of anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and serious psychological distress. Methods: An online survey was administered to a convenience sample from 18 June to 19 July 2020, in US states that were most affected by COVID-19 infections and deaths at the time. Individuals who were 18 or older and residents of five Northeast US states were eligible to participate (N = 1079). In preregistered analyses, we used logistic regression models to test the associations of COVID-19 stressors with symptoms on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and K6, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results: COVID-19-related stressors (i.e., essential worker status, worry about COVID-19 infection, knowing someone hospitalized by COVID-19, having children under 14 at home, loneliness, barriers to environmental rewards, food insecurity, loss of employment) were associated with meeting thresholds (i.e., positive screening) for anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and/or serious psychological distress. Loneliness and barriers to environmental rewards were associated with all mental health outcomes. Limitations: We used a non-probability sample and cannot assume temporal precedence of stressors with regard to development of mental health symptoms. Conclusions: These findings link specific stressors to the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Mollie A. Monnig & Samantha E. Clark & Jaqueline C. Avila & Alexander W. Sokolovsky & Hayley Treloar Padovano & Kimberly Goodyear & Elizabeth R. Aston & Carolina L. Haass-Koffler & Jennifer W. Tidey &, 2023. "COVID-19-Related Stressors and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms in a Northeast US Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1367-:d:1032997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gabriella Tyson & Jennifer Wild, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Journalists Repeatedly Covering COVID-19 News," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-8, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fuschia M. Sirois, 2023. "Procrastination and Stress: A Conceptual Review of Why Context Matters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-15, March.

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