Association of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 With Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms: A Multi-National Study of 43 Countries

MCML Authors

Frauke Kreuter

Prof. Dr.

Principal Investigator

Social Data Science and AI

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) with anxiety and depressive symptoms among adults and determine if these associations varied by gender and age.<br>Methods: We combined survey data from 16,177,184 adults from 43 countries who participated in the daily COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey via Facebook with time-varying NPI data from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker between 24 April 2020 and 20 December 2020. Using logistic regression models, we examined the association of [1] overall NPI stringency and [2] seven individual NPIs (school closures, workplace closures, cancellation of public events, restrictions on the size of gatherings, stay-at-home requirements, restrictions on internal movement, and international travel controls) with anxiety and depressive symptoms.<br>Results: More stringent implementation of NPIs was associated with a higher odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms, albeit with very small effect sizes. Individual NPIs had heterogeneous associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms by gender and age.<br>Conclusion: Governments worldwide should be prepared to address the possible mental health consequences of stringent NPI implementation with both universal and targeted interventions for vulnerable groups.

article

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International Journal of Public Health

67. Mar. 2022.

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Authors

K. E. Riehm • E. Badillo Goicoechea • F. M. Wang • E. Kim • L. R. Aldridge • C. P. Lupton-Smith • R. Presskreischer • T.-H. Chang • S. LaRocca • F. Kreuter • E. A. Stuart

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Links

DOI

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Research Area

 C4 | Computational Social Sciences