Research Impact: We used weekly data collected over eight weeks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to expand previous findings and use dynamic panel models with fixed effects to better understand the direction and magnitude of the mental health-loneliness association among 2361 US adults. Depressive symptoms were associated with small increases in both anxiety symptoms and loneliness; anxiety symptoms were associated with a small increase in loneliness; and, loneliness was strongly associated with subsequent increases in both depressive and anxiety symptoms. High loneliness may be a key risk factor for future anxiety and depressive symptoms, underscoring the need to combat loneliness throughout and beyond COVID-19.
McDowell CP, Meyer JD, Russell DW, Brower CS, Lansing J, Herring MP (2021). Bidirectional associations between depressive and anxiety symptoms and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Dynamic panel models with fixed effects. Frontiers in Psychiatry, (IF: 4.157; C=; Q2 Psychiatry; R=56/156) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.738892/abstract
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