Covid-19 pandemic: Age-related differences in measures of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada

Izu Nwachukwu; Nnamdi Nkire; Reham Shalaby; Marianne Hrabok; Wesley Vuong; April Gusnowski; Shireen Surood; Liana Urichuk; Andrew J. Greenshaw; Vincent I.O. Agyapong

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176366

Covid-19 pandemic: Age-related differences in measures of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada

Izu Nwachukwu, Nnamdi Nkire, Reham Shalaby, Marianne Hrabok, Wesley Vuong, April Gusnowski, Shireen Surood, Liana Urichuk, Andrew J. Greenshaw, Vincent I.O. Agyapong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

227 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The spread of COVID-19 along with strict public health measures have resulted in unintended adverse effects, including greater levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined relative presentations of these psychopathologies in different age groups in a Canadian cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Participants were subscribers to the Text4Hope program, developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey link was used to gather demographic information and responses on several self-report scales, such as Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: There were 8267 individuals who completed the survey, giving a response rate of 19.4%. Overall, 909 (11.0%) respondents identified as ≤25 years, 2939 (35.6%) identified as (26–40) years, 3431 (41.5%) identified as (41–60) years, 762 (9.2%) identified as over 60 years, and 226 (2.7%) did not identify their age. Mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scales were highest among those aged ≤25 and lowest amongst those aged >60 years old. Conclusions: The finding that the prevalence rates and the mean scores for stress, anxiety, and depression on standardized scales to decrease from younger to older subscribers is an interesting observation with potential implications for planning to meet mental health service needs during COVID-19.

Original language	English
Article number	6366
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	17
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176366
Publication status	Published - Sept 1 2020
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation, the Calgary Health Trust, the University Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.

Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation, the Calgary Health Trust, the University Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study. Acknowledgments: Support for the project was received from Alberta Health Services and the University of Alberta.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph17176366

Cite this

Nwachukwu, I., Nkire, N., Shalaby, R., Hrabok, M., Vuong, W., Gusnowski, A., Surood, S., Urichuk, L., Greenshaw, A. J., & Agyapong, V. I. O. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic: Age-related differences in measures of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 1-10. Article 6366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176366

Nwachukwu, I, Nkire, N, Shalaby, R, Hrabok, M, Vuong, W, Gusnowski, A, Surood, S, Urichuk, L, Greenshaw, AJ & Agyapong, VIO 2020, 'Covid-19 pandemic: Age-related differences in measures of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 17, 6366, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176366

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abstract = "Background: The spread of COVID-19 along with strict public health measures have resulted in unintended adverse effects, including greater levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined relative presentations of these psychopathologies in different age groups in a Canadian cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Participants were subscribers to the Text4Hope program, developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey link was used to gather demographic information and responses on several self-report scales, such as Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: There were 8267 individuals who completed the survey, giving a response rate of 19.4%. Overall, 909 (11.0%) respondents identified as ≤25 years, 2939 (35.6%) identified as (26–40) years, 3431 (41.5%) identified as (41–60) years, 762 (9.2%) identified as over 60 years, and 226 (2.7%) did not identify their age. Mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scales were highest among those aged ≤25 and lowest amongst those aged >60 years old. Conclusions: The finding that the prevalence rates and the mean scores for stress, anxiety, and depression on standardized scales to decrease from younger to older subscribers is an interesting observation with potential implications for planning to meet mental health service needs during COVID-19.",

author = "Izu Nwachukwu and Nnamdi Nkire and Reham Shalaby and Marianne Hrabok and Wesley Vuong and April Gusnowski and Shireen Surood and Liana Urichuk and Greenshaw, {Andrew J.} and Agyapong, {Vincent I.O.}",

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AU - Hrabok, Marianne

AU - Vuong, Wesley

AU - Gusnowski, April

AU - Surood, Shireen

AU - Urichuk, Liana

AU - Greenshaw, Andrew J.

AU - Agyapong, Vincent I.O.

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N2 - Background: The spread of COVID-19 along with strict public health measures have resulted in unintended adverse effects, including greater levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined relative presentations of these psychopathologies in different age groups in a Canadian cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Participants were subscribers to the Text4Hope program, developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey link was used to gather demographic information and responses on several self-report scales, such as Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: There were 8267 individuals who completed the survey, giving a response rate of 19.4%. Overall, 909 (11.0%) respondents identified as ≤25 years, 2939 (35.6%) identified as (26–40) years, 3431 (41.5%) identified as (41–60) years, 762 (9.2%) identified as over 60 years, and 226 (2.7%) did not identify their age. Mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scales were highest among those aged ≤25 and lowest amongst those aged >60 years old. Conclusions: The finding that the prevalence rates and the mean scores for stress, anxiety, and depression on standardized scales to decrease from younger to older subscribers is an interesting observation with potential implications for planning to meet mental health service needs during COVID-19.

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Covid-19 pandemic: Age-related differences in measures of stress, anxiety and depression in Canada

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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