Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Urban, Low-Income Public University Sample

J Trauma Stress. 2021 Feb;34(1):12-22. doi: 10.1002/jts.22600. Epub 2020 Oct 12.

Abstract

Mental health disparities in the aftermath of national disasters and the protective role of socioeconomic status are both well documented. We assessed the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among underresourced public university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Between April 8, 2020, and May 2, 2020, adult students (N = 1,821) across the CUNY system completed an online survey examining COVID-19-related stressors and mental health and sociodemographic factors. Using multivariable logistical regression to assess the association between COVID-19-related stressors and depression and anxiety symptoms, we found a high prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. We also observed that more exposure to COVID-19-related stressors was associated with increased depressive (27.0%, 41.4%, and 63.1% for low-, medium-, and high-level stressors, respectively) and anxiety symptoms (19.3%, 34.6%, 52.2%). In addition, the degree of exposure to COVID-19-related stressors served as an important predictor of depression and anxiety symptoms. Compared to high levels of stressors, the odds of depression were 0.2, 95% CI [0.2, 0.3] for low- and 0.4, 95% CI [0.3, 0.5] for medium-level stressors; for anxiety, the odds were 0.2, 95% CI [0.2, 0.3] for low and 0.05, 95% CI [0.4, 0.6] for medium stressors. Finally, household savings of less than $5,000 increased the risk of anxiety but not depression symptoms, OR = 1.3, 95% CI [1.0,1.6]. Together, these findings tell a devastating story of psychological distress among students from lower socioeconomic groups living in the COVID-19 epicenter of the U.S. pandemic.

JOTS‐20‐0205.R2_Rudenstine_cantonese

Traditional Chinese

城市低收入公立大學樣本在covid‐19期間的抑鬱症與焦慮症

摘要 : 國家災難後的心理健康差異和社會經濟地位的保護作用都有充分的記錄。我們評估了在紐約市處於新冠疫情(COVID‐19)病毒大流行期間, 資源匱乏的公立大學學生的抑鬱和焦慮症狀的流行情況。在2020年4月8日至5月2日期間, 紐約城市大學系統的成年學生(N = 1821)完成了一項關於covid ‐19相關壓力源、心理健康以及社會人口因素的在線調查。使用多變量邏輯回歸來評估與COVID‐19有關的壓力源與抑鬱和焦慮症狀之間的關係, 我們發現抑鬱和焦慮症狀的患病率和嚴重程度都很高。同時, 我們還觀察到, 接觸更多與COVID‐19有關的壓力源與抑鬱症(低、中、高級壓力源分別為27.0% 、41.4%和63.1% )和焦慮症狀(19.3% 、34.6% 、 52.2% )的增加有關。另外, 接觸與COVID‐19有關的壓力源的程度是預測抑鬱症和焦慮症狀的一個重要因素。與高水平的壓力源相比, 低水平壓力源的抑鬱症機率為0.2 , 95%CI[0.2 , 0.3] , 中等水平壓力源的機率為0.4 , 95%CI[0.3 , 0.5] ;對於焦慮症, 低水平壓力源的機率為0.2 , 95%CI[0.2 , 0.3] , 中等壓力源的機率為0.05 , 95%CI[0.4 , 0.6] 。最後, 家庭儲蓄少於$5,000美金會增加焦慮的風險, 但不會增加抑鬱症狀, OR =1.3 , 95%CI[1.0,1.6] 。這些發現共同講述了生活在美國大流行病COVID‐19震中的社會經濟地位較低群體的學生的心理痛苦。

Simplified Chinese

城市低收入公立大学样本在covid‐19期间的抑郁症与焦虑症

摘要 : 国家灾难后的心理健康差异和社会经济地位的保护作用都有充分的记录。我们评估了在纽约市处于新冠疫情(COVID‐19)病毒大流行期间, 资源匮乏的公立大学学生的抑郁和焦虑症状的流行情况。在2020年4月8日至5月2日期间, 纽约城市大学系统的成年学生(N = 1821)完成了一项关于covid ‐19相关压力源、心理健康以及社会人口因素的在线调查。使用多变量逻辑回归来评估与COVID‐19有关的压力源与抑郁和焦虑症状之间的关系, 我们发现抑郁和焦虑症状的患病率和严重程度都很高。同时, 我们还观察到, 接触更多与COVID‐19有关的压力源与抑郁症(低、中、高级压力源分别为27.0% 、41.4%和63.1% )和焦虑症状(19.3% 、34.6% 、 52.2% )的增加有关。另外, 接触与COVID‐19有关的压力源的程度是预测抑郁症和焦虑症状的一个重要因素。与高水平的压力源相比, 低水平压力源的抑郁症机率为0.2 , 95%CI[0.2 , 0.3] , 中等水平压力源的机率为0.4 , 95%CI[0.3 , 0.5] ;对于焦虑症, 低水平压力源的机率为0.2 , 95%CI[0.2 , 0.3] , 中等压力源的机率为0.05 , 95%CI[0.4 , 0.6] 。最后, 家庭储蓄少于$5,000美金会增加焦虑的风险, 但不会增加抑郁症状, OR =1.3 , 95%CI[1.0,1.6] 。这些发现共同讲述了生活在美国大流行病COVID‐19震中的社会经济地位较低群体的学生的心理痛苦。

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / psychology*
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Economic Status / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Pandemics
  • Poverty
  • Prevalence
  • Psychological Distress*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult