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Trends in depression risk before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Sofia B Villas-Boas
  • Justin S White
  • Scott Kaplan
  • Renee Y Hsia

Abstract

Using 11 years of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data set for 2011 to 2021, we track the evolution of depression risk for U.S. states and territories before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We use these data in conjunction with unemployment and COVID case data by state and by year to describe changes in the prevalence of self-reported diagnosis with a depressive disorder over time and especially after the onset of COVID in 2020 and 2021. We further investigate heterogeneous associations of depression risk by demographic characteristics. Regression analyses of these associations adjust for state-specific and period-specific factors using state and year-fixed effects. First, we find that depression risk had been increasing in the US in years preceding the pandemic. Second, we find no significant average changes in depression risk at the onset of COVID in 2020 relative to previous trends, but estimate a 3% increase in average depression risk in 2021. Importantly, we find meaningful variation in terms of changes in depression risk during the pandemic across demographic subgroups.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia B Villas-Boas & Justin S White & Scott Kaplan & Renee Y Hsia, 2023. "Trends in depression risk before and during the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0285282
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285282
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frederick J. Zimmerman & Wayne Katon, 2005. "Socioeconomic status, depression disparities, and financial strain: what lies behind the income‐depression relationship?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(12), pages 1197-1215, December.
    2. Abi Adams-Prassl & Teodora Boneva & Marta Golin & Christopher Rauh, 2022. "The impact of the coronavirus lockdown on mental health: evidence from the United States," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 37(109), pages 139-155.
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    Cited by:

    1. David G Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2024. "Were COVID and the Great Recession well-being reducing?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(11), pages 1-34, November.

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