Many topics for research have been brought up due to covid and isolation.  In these studies, the main topic was mental health.  Between the CDC (US) and Cambridge (UK) studies, results were relatively similar; symptoms of issues with adults’ mental health have increased. The summary of each article with the similarities and differences are explained. 

This article by the CDC focuses on surveying people on anxiety and depression in the US.  It uses an online 20-minute pulse survey.  These surveys were distributed to adults in seven collections, each at different times of the year from 2020 to 2022.  Questions were asked that pointed some people towards having symptoms of anxiety and depression. This survey kept the same “in the past 7 days…” then later changed to “in the past 14 days…” to determine recent symptoms of those in certain ‘collections.’  Part of this survey was modified to determine specific symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder/or major depressive disorder.  The survey resulted in 6.5% reporting depressive disorder symptoms and 10.8% reporting generalized anxiety disorder. Later in the article, they show statistics on the results divided into categories.  Such as race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. There are four types of errors that could have occurred. First, measurement error; the respondent could have put false information or misunderstood the question being asked.  The second is coverage error; those distributing the survey could have missed someone who was supposed to be in the survey. The third is a nonresponse error; the respondent simply did not respond to the survey or is unwilling to give certain information, leaving some questions blank. Lastly, processing error; those who put in the information from the surveys could have made a mistake or one’s survey got lost.

This article by Cambridge focuses more on the psychological and social measures with a range of symptoms. It uses a quota survey with a national sample. Including, anxiety, depression, suicidal/self-harm history, defeat, entrapment, and loneliness. Questions were asked that pointed some towards the ‘frequency’ of anxiety and depression vs. other surveys towards what specific symptoms. For example, the first question could ask “have you felt anxious more than normal?” If answered yes then a follow-up question of “when was the last time? 1 hour ago, 1 week, or 1 month ago?”  In the UK, questions on these topics were administered in the first six weeks of lockdown. This survey took into account previous mental health issues with those taking the survey and made subgroups based on them.  Three different waves were sent through, determining the difference between each.  In wave one, over 3000 adults were surveyed.  Results; suicidal thoughts grew with time, anxiety symptoms, feelings of defeat, and entrapment all lessened with time, positive well-being improved, and loneliness levels remained constant throughout the waves.  Additionally, women, young adults, and those with pre-existing mental health symptoms showed worsened outcomes than before.  Over 20% of those who took the survey, showed symptoms of anxiety but later decreased through the waves.  Men showed much fewer depression symptoms (at 17%) than women (at 33%). The list goes on with each symptom area (subgroup) and what they determined by percentage.  There are many errors or limitations that could have occurred in this survey. This survey was answered by surveyors’ self-reports instead of a diagnosis by a professional, and with many people dropping out of the survey or answering without importance, could not help us represent everyone who was affected by the first six weeks of covid-19/lockdown. 

The main differences between these articles/surveys include the variety of symptoms being determined, the frequency/time asked in each question, the type of survey administered, and the time limit put on the US survey vs. the UK survey.  Lastly, location and time when surveys were taken: each survey had a different goal. The US survey determined symptoms and some frequency through three years while the one in the UK determined symptoms and frequency during only the first six weeks. The main similarities between these articles/surveys are symptom topics used of anxiety/depression, having adults answer the questions, and limitations/errors resulting from the approaches of each survey.  Both can be used to discuss results in each area, but the same information is not given in both.  The location of the survey being taken is one thing to compare but the variety of topics in mental health, approaches, etc., are somewhat different between both. Overall, both articles have shown that mental health as a whole has gotten worse since the beginning of lockdown and covid-19.

 

• Mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal analyses of adults in the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing study (non-scholarly)

O’Connor, Rory C., et al. “Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Analyses of Adults in the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing Study: The British Journal of Psychiatry.” Cambridge Core, Cambridge University Press, 21 Oct. 2020, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-covid19-pandemic-longitudinal-analyses-of-adults-in-the-uk-covid19-mental-health-wellbeing-study/F7321CBF45C749C788256CFE6964B00C. 

• Mental Health – Household Pulse Survey – Covid-19. (non-scholarly)

“Mental Health – Household Pulse Survey – Covid-19.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Mar. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm. 

• Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and Use of Mental Health Care among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, August 2020–February 2021  (scholarly)

Vahratian, Anjel, et al. “Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and Use of Mental Health Care among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, August 2020–February 2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 70, no. 13, 2021, pp. 490–494., https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7013e2. 

•  Pandemic Causes Spike in Anxiety & Depression (non-scholarly)

Richter, Felix. “Infographic: Pandemic Causes Spike in Anxiety & Depression.” Statista Infographics, 15 Feb. 2022, https://www.statista.com/chart/21878/impact-of-coronavirus-pandemic-on-mental-health/. 

• Mental Health Effects In High School Seniors (primary)

Memon, Alena. “Mental Health Effects In High School Seniors .” Self Survey. 8 Apr. 2022, pp. 1–2.