Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Young Adults Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Canadian Population-Based Cohort

Watkins-Martin, K.; Orri, M.; Pennestri, M.-H.; Castellanos-Ryan, N.; Larose, S.; Gouin, J.-P.; Ouellet-Morin, I.; Philippe, F.; Boivin, M.; Tremblay, R. E.; Cote, S.; Geoffroy, M.-C.

Background: Concerns have been raised that the Covid-19 pandemic could increase risk for poor mental health, especially in young adults, a vulnerable age group. We investigated changes in depression and anxiety symptoms (overall and severe) from before to during the pandemic, as well as whether these changes are linked to Covid-19 related stressors and pre-existing vulnerabilities in young adults followed in the context of a population-based cohort. Method: Participants (n=1039) from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development reported on their depression and anxiety and completed a Covid-19 questionnaire during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Summer 2020 (age 22 years). Assessments at age 20 (2018) were used to estimate pre-pandemic depression and anxiety symptom severity. Results: While overall levels of depression and anxiety symptoms did not change, there was an increase in rates of severe depression (but not severe anxiety) from before (6.1%) to during (8.2%) the pandemic. Covid-19 related variables (e.g., loss of education/occupation, frequent news seeking) and pre-existing vulnerabilities (e.g., low SES, low social support) were not associated with changes in depression or anxiety symptoms. Further, youth with pre-existing depression and anxiety symptoms did not report a greater increase in symptoms during the pandemic, compared to those without; instead, they tended to show an improvement. Interpretation: Depression and anxiety symptoms in young adults from Quebec in Summer 2020 were comparable to symptoms reported in 2018. Most Covid-19 related stressors and pre-existing vulnerabilities were not associated with change in symptoms. However, the increased rate of severe depression is concerning.