Depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a New Zealand cohort study on mental well-being

Gasteiger, Norina; Vedhara, Kavita; Massey, Adam; Jia, Ru; Ayling, Kieran; Chalder, Trudie; Coupland, Carol; Broadbent, Elizabeth

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to daily life. This study investigated depression, anxiety and stress in New Zealand (NZ) during the first ten weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated psychological and behavioural factors. It also compares the results with a similar cross-sectional study in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: NZ community cohort

Participants: N= 681 adults (≥18 years) in NZ. The cohort was predominantly female (89%) with a mean age of 42 (range 18-87). Most (74%) identified as NZ/European and almost half (46%) were keyworkers. Most were non-smokers (97%) and 20% identified themselves as having clinical risk factors which would put them at increased or greatest risk of COVID-19.

Main outcome measures: Depression, anxiety, stress, positive mood and engagement in health behaviours (smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption)

Results: Depression and anxiety significantly exceeded population norms (p≤0.0001). Being younger(p≤0.0001) and most at-risk of COVID-19 (p≤0.05) were associated with greater depression, anxiety, and stress. Greater positive mood, lower loneliness, and greater exercise were protective factors for all outcomes (p≤0.0001). Smoking (p=0.037) and alcohol consumption (p≤0.05) were associated with increased anxiety. Pet ownership was associated with lower depression (p=0.006) and anxiety(p=0.008). When adjusting for age and gender differences, anxiety (p=0.002) and stress (p=0.007) were significantly lower in NZ than the UK. The NZ sample reported lower perceived risk (p≤0.0001)and worry about COVID-19 (p≤0.0001) than the UK sample.

Conclusions: The NZ population had higher depression and anxiety compared to population norms. Younger people and those most at-risk of COVID-19 reported poorer mental health. Interventions should promote frequent exercise, and reduce loneliness and unhealthy behaviours.

Citation

Gasteiger, N., Vedhara, K., Massey, A., Jia, R., Ayling, K., Chalder, T., …Broadbent, E. (2021). Depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a New Zealand cohort study on mental well-being. BMJ Open, 11(5), Article e045325. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045325

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 3, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: May 3, 2021
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 5
• Article Number: e045325
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045325
• Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, psychological wellbeing, depression, stress, anxiety, New Zealand
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5411083
• Publisher URL: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/5/e045325