America's anxiety levels during the pandemic may not have risen significantly, according to a recent study
The University of Virginia (UVA) has published a study in the journal Clinical Psychological Science that challenges the widespread perception of a mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, led by clinical psychology researcher Noah French, found that overall anxiety levels among Americans did not significantly increase during the pandemic[1][3].
The study used data from nearly 100,000 U.S. adults collected from 2011 to 2022, allowing for a long-term comparison before and during the pandemic. This large dataset showed no prolonged elevation in anxiety symptoms, either self-reported or measured implicitly, across different age groups, including emerging adults (18–25 years) and older adults[1].
The findings suggest that mental health among U.S. adults is more resilient than commonly assumed, despite numerous media reports highlighting a "mental health crisis." The discrepancy between public perception and data likely arises from heightened awareness and media coverage focusing on mental health, rather than a verified population-level rise in anxiety[3].
Although some prior reports, like those from the World Health Organization, indicated increased depression and anxiety prevalence linked to loneliness and fear of infection, this specific UVA study's rigorous, preregistered methodology and extended timeline showed stable anxiety severity, challenging assumptions about widespread enduring spikes in psychological distress during the pandemic[1][3].
The study involved volunteers from the Project Implicit, a Harvard-run project aimed at understanding people's perceptions and biases. It is worth noting that these volunteers tend to be more educated than the general public.
Noah French, the lead study author, expressed concern about the lack of high-quality research tracking population mental health over time. He also warned against trusting headlines that make strong claims about a certain mental health condition being 'on the rise'.
Despite the stable anxiety levels among the general population, the study did reveal some trends. Younger individuals under 25 continued to have higher anxiety levels on average compared to older individuals during the pandemic, and this trend did not change[1]. Additionally, rates of binge alcohol drinking appeared to spike in the first years of the pandemic[2].
The COVID-19 pandemic was a horrific and earth-shattering world event, and it is important to remember that mental health struggles can still occur on an individual level. French personally reported that his mental health stayed stable during the pandemic, despite occasional early dips as friends and family became sick or hospitalized.
The researchers emphasize the need for more studies to truly understand the mental health impacts of the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of young children lost caregivers due to COVID-19, and it is crucial to investigate the long-term effects of such losses on their mental health[4].
In summary, the study concluded that anxiety levels mostly remained stable during the pandemic, and the perceived mental health crisis might be overstated or influenced by media emphasis rather than reflecting a broad, objective increase in anxiety among Americans[1][3].
[1] French, N. D., et al. (2023). The COVID-19 pandemic and US adults' anxiety: A longitudinal, preregistered study. Clinical Psychological Science. [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Alcohol and COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/alcohol-use.html [3] French, N. D. (2023). Commentary: The pandemic and mental health: Is the sky falling? Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mental-health-myths/202302/the-pandemic-and-mental-health-is-the-sky-falling [4] Save the Children. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on children who have lost their parents. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergencies/covid-19/impact-of-covid-19-on-children-who-have-lost-their-parents
- The study published by the University of Virginia (UVA) in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, using data from 2011 to 2022, shows that overall anxiety levels among Americans did not significantly increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite media coverage implying a mental health crisis.
- The UVA study, led by clinical psychology researcher Noah French, found no prolonged elevation in anxiety symptoms, either self-reported or measured implicitly, across different age groups, including emerging adults (18–25 years) and older adults.
- Although the study revealed stable anxiety levels among the general population, it did highlight some trends, such as younger individuals under 25 continuing to have higher anxiety levels on average compared to older individuals during the pandemic.
- Despite the stable anxiety levels among Americans, the COVID-19 pandemic still poses mental health challenges on an individual level, as emphasized by Noah French, the lead study author, who reported occasional early dips in his mental health as friends and family fell ill or were hospitalized.
