Symptoms of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in the United States can negatively impact physical and mental health. Participants were asked about psychosocial factors associated with experiencing symptoms of distress via surveys distributed on Social Media. Results showed that younger age, unemployment/losing wages/job, worse perceived general health (compared to excellent health) and recent smoking were consistently associated with increased odds of feelings of depression and anxiety. Further, females (aOR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.11) was associated with increased odds of feelings of depression. Findings reinforce a call for widespread, targeted prevention and treatment interventions for particular groups.