Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the policies to contain it have been a near ubiquitous exposure for people in the US in 2020. As an event that can cause physical, emotional, and psychological harm, the COVID-19 pandemic can itself be considered a traumatic event.¹ In addition, the policies created to prevent its spread introduced new life stressors and disrupted daily living for most people in the US. As of April 13, 2020, 42 states were under stay-at-home advisories or shelter-in-place policies, affecting at least 316 million people in the US, or approximately 96% of the population.² The unemployment rate was reaching record highs in the US, with more than 20 million people filing for unemployment between the start of COVID-19 and mid-April 2020.