The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated strict safety measures and preparedness, potentially influencing mental well-being worldwide. This study investigated the impact of safety measures and preparedness levels on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, USA examin...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1547178/full |
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| author | Thi Kim Ngan Vo Norbert Skokauskas Keely Cheslack-Postava Christina W. Hoven Christina W. Hoven |
| author_facet | Thi Kim Ngan Vo Norbert Skokauskas Keely Cheslack-Postava Christina W. Hoven Christina W. Hoven |
| author_sort | Thi Kim Ngan Vo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated strict safety measures and preparedness, potentially influencing mental well-being worldwide. This study investigated the impact of safety measures and preparedness levels on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, USA examining how sociodemographic characteristics modified these associations.MethodA longitudinal study of 1,227 participants from three ongoing cohorts, provided data through telephone interviews across three waves from March 2020 to August 2021. Depression and anxiety were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7). Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes over time, adjusting for potential confounders and assessing the modification effect of demographic factors.ResultsAt Wave 1, 18% of participants reported moderate to severe depression, while 20% had moderate to severe anxiety. Over time, these rates declined significantly, with depression dropping to 9% and anxiety to 10% by Wave 3. Safety measures practiced at Wave 1 showed a protective effect on depression at Wave 3 (OR=0.45, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.91). Higher preparedness levels were significantly associated with reduced odds of anxiety (aOR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.93) in the concurrent wave. Age specific analysis revealed that individuals aged 26-35 experienced stronger protective effects from higher preparedness levels (OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.92) compared to younger age groups.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of safety measures and preparedness in mitigating mental health challenges during crises. Addressing age specific factors and preparedness levels can guide the public health strategies to better support diverse populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd7e8bc28c01454f9a118468a94d841a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd7e8bc28c01454f9a118468a94d841a2025-08-20T03:17:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-04-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15471781547178The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemicThi Kim Ngan Vo0Norbert Skokauskas1Keely Cheslack-Postava2Christina W. Hoven3Christina W. Hoven4Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, NorwayRegional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Department of Mental Health (IPH), NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayGlobal Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United StatesGlobal Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United StatesBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated strict safety measures and preparedness, potentially influencing mental well-being worldwide. This study investigated the impact of safety measures and preparedness levels on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, USA examining how sociodemographic characteristics modified these associations.MethodA longitudinal study of 1,227 participants from three ongoing cohorts, provided data through telephone interviews across three waves from March 2020 to August 2021. Depression and anxiety were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7). Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes over time, adjusting for potential confounders and assessing the modification effect of demographic factors.ResultsAt Wave 1, 18% of participants reported moderate to severe depression, while 20% had moderate to severe anxiety. Over time, these rates declined significantly, with depression dropping to 9% and anxiety to 10% by Wave 3. Safety measures practiced at Wave 1 showed a protective effect on depression at Wave 3 (OR=0.45, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.91). Higher preparedness levels were significantly associated with reduced odds of anxiety (aOR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.93) in the concurrent wave. Age specific analysis revealed that individuals aged 26-35 experienced stronger protective effects from higher preparedness levels (OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.92) compared to younger age groups.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of safety measures and preparedness in mitigating mental health challenges during crises. Addressing age specific factors and preparedness levels can guide the public health strategies to better support diverse populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1547178/fullanxietyCOVID-19depressionNew York Citypandemic responsespreparedness |
| spellingShingle | Thi Kim Ngan Vo Norbert Skokauskas Keely Cheslack-Postava Christina W. Hoven Christina W. Hoven The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Psychiatry anxiety COVID-19 depression New York City pandemic responses preparedness |
| title | The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | The relationship between safety measures, preparedness, and mental health outcomes in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | relationship between safety measures preparedness and mental health outcomes in new york city during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | anxiety COVID-19 depression New York City pandemic responses preparedness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1547178/full |
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