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UCL - Anxiety & depression levels fall as lockdown eased

Levels of anxiety and depression in the UK have both fallen in the past week but remain above the usual reported averages, according to UCL’s Covid-19 social study of over 90,000 adults during the coronavirus epidemic.

The ongoing study, which was launched in the week before lockdown, is funded by the Nuffield Foundation with additional support from Wellcome and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It is the UK’s largest study into how adults are feeling about the lockdown, government advice and overall wellbeing and mental health.

The study shows that depression levels have decreased particularly amongst those under 60, but depression and anxiety are still highest in young people, those living alone, those with lower household income, people with a diagnosed mental illness, people living with children, and people living in urban areas.

The figures also show that life satisfaction, measured on a scale from 0 (not at all satisfied with life) to 10 (completely satisfied with life) has risen from under 5.5 when lockdown was first announced to over 6, but is still lower than usually-reported averages.

Lead author, Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Epidemiology & Health Care) said: “It is encouraging that levels of anxiety and depression have both fallen as lockdown has eased. However, the levels being reported by participants are still worse than usual reported averages. While our sample is not random, meaning direct comparisons to usual averages are complex, we have good representation across demographic groups and all data are weighted to population proportions for key demographics.”

Respondents were also asked how much confidence they had in the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 epidemic from one (not at all) to seven (lots). The study finds that whilst lockdown measures have begun to ease in the devolved nations, confidence in their respective governments remains steady at around 5 in Scotland & Northern Ireland, and just over 4 in Wales. But the difference in confidence between the devolved nations and the UK government continues to grow with English confidence currently at around 3.5. Confidence is lowest amongst those under 30, and is also lower amongst those in urban areas.

Levels of ‘complete’ compliance with lockdown measures have also fallen further, with a greater decrease and lower levels in people with higher household incomes, people in England (compared to Scotland or Wales), and people in cities. However, ‘majority’ compliance remains relatively steady, with over 90% of people surveyed still showing a large degree of compliance with the rules.

Thoughts of death and self-harm, experience of self-harm, and loneliness also remain relatively stable but are higher amongst younger people, those in urban areas, those with a lower household income and people with a diagnosed mental health condition.

Cheryl Lloyd, Education Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation said: “Whilst it is reassuring that levels of anxiety and depression have begun to decrease as lockdown lifts, it is important that researchers continue to carefully monitor the psychological impacts of the pandemic, especially as the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 are likely to be long-lasting."

The study team has also received support from Wellcome to launch an international network of longitudinal studies called the COVID-MINDS Network. Through the network, dozens of scientists and clinicians are coming together internationally to collate results from mental health studies running in countries around the world and compare findings. The initiative will support launching new mental health studies in other countries and show whether actions taken in specific countries are helping to protect mental health.

Notes to editors

For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact: Jake Hawkes, UCL Media Relations. +44 (0)7747 565 056, E: j.hawkes @ucl.ac.uk

About UCL – London’s Global University

UCL is a diverse community with the freedom to challenge and think differently.

Our community of more than 41,500 students from 150 countries and over 12,500 staff pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems.

We are consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the world and are one of only a handful of institutions rated as having the strongest academic reputation and the broadest research impact.

We have a progressive and integrated approach to our teaching and research – championing innovation, creativity and cross-disciplinary working. We teach our students how to think, not what to think, and see them as partners, collaborators and contributors.  

For almost 200 years, we are proud to have opened higher education to students from a wide range of backgrounds and to change the way we create and share knowledge.

We were the first in England to welcome women to university education and that courageous attitude and disruptive spirit is still alive today. We are UCL.

www.ucl.ac.uk| Follow @uclnews on Twitter | Watch our YouTube channel | UCL podcasts on SoundCloud | Find out what’s on at UCL Minds | #MadeAtUCL

Find out how UCL is helping lead the global fight against COVID-19 www.ucl.ac.uk/covid-19-research

The Nuffield Foundation

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance social well-being. It funds research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare, and Justice. It also funds student programmes that provide opportunities for young people to develop skills in quantitative and scientific methods. The Nuffield Foundation is the founder and co-funder of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Ada Lovelace Institute. The Foundation has funded this project, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. Visit www.nuffieldfoundation.org

Original article link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jun/anxiety-depression-levels-fall-lockdown-eased

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