Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two longitudinal UK population cohorts

<jats:sec id="S0007125020002421_sec_a1"> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures are likely to have a marked effect on mental health. It is important to use longitudinal data to improve inferences.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007125020002421_sec_a2"> <jats:title>Aims</jats:title> <jats:p>To quantify the prevalence of depression, anxiety and mental well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, to identify groups at risk of depression and/or anxiety during the pandemic.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007125020002421_sec_a3" sec-type="methods"> <jats:title>Method</jats:title> <jats:p> Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) index generation ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 2850, mean age 28 years) and parent generation ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 3720, mean age 59 years), and Generation Scotland ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 4233, mean age 59 years). Depression was measured with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire in ALSPAC and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in Generation Scotland. Anxiety and mental well-being were measured with the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 and the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. </jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007125020002421_sec_a4" sec-type="results"> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Depression during the pandemic was similar to pre-pandemic levels in the ALSPAC index generation, but those experiencing anxiety had almost doubled, at 24% (95% CI 23–26%) compared with a pre-pandemic level of 13% (95% CI 12–14%). In both studies, anxiety and depression during the pandemic was greater in younger members, women, those with pre-existing mental/physical health conditions and individuals in socioeconomic adversity, even when controlling for pre-pandemic anxiety and depression.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007125020002421_sec_a5" sec-type="conclusions"> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>These results provide evidence for increased anxiety in young people that is coincident with the pandemic. Specific groups are at elevated risk of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is important for planning current mental health provisions and for long-term impact beyond this pandemic.</jats:p> </jats:sec>