{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Social distancing stress, anxiety/depression, COVID-19 diagnosis, gender identity, and immigration status.
{Author}: Adzrago D;Chiangong J;Ormiston CK;Dada OM;Jones A;Williams F;
{Journal}: Arch Public Health
{Volume}: 82
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 Jun 14
{Factor}: 2.736
{DOI}: 10.1186/s13690-024-01320-6
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Strict social distancing public health measures to decrease COVID-19 spread increased social distancing stress. However, differences in social distancing stress by anxiety/depression symptoms are understudied, especially based on COVID-19 diagnosis status, gender identity, and immigration status. We examined whether the association between social distancing stress and anxiety/depression symptoms was moderated by COVID-19 diagnosis status, gender identity, and immigration status. We further examined the associations of social distancing stress with anxiety/depression symptoms, gender identity, and immigration status among individuals with and without COVID-19.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We utilized data from a national cross-sectional survey among adults aged ≥ 18 years in the United States between May 13, 2021, and January 9, 2022 (n = 5,255). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The prevalence of social distancing stress was higher among individuals with COVID-19 (79.23%) than among those without COVID-19 (67.51%). We observed significant associations between social distancing stress and anxiety/depression symptoms, moderated by COVID-19 diagnosis status, immigration status, and gender identity, respectively. Anxiety/depression symptoms were associated with social distancing stress among both individuals with and without COVID-19. Gender identity and immigration status were associated with social distancing stress among only individuals without COVID-19.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our findings revealed that the association between social distancing stress and anxiety/depression varied by COVID-19 diagnosis status, gender identity, and immigration status. The findings underscore the need for more targeted psychological distress strategies to reduce social distancing stress and anxiety/depression among diverse US populations, while considering the impacts of COVID-19 diagnosis status, gender identity, and immigration status.