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If you drink more, sleep less, see scary numbers on your scale, and worry about the future, you’re far from alone, a new survey reveals.
“We have been concerned throughout this pandemic about the prolonged stress levels, exacerbated by the grief, trauma and isolation that Americans experience,” said Arthur Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association. , sponsor of the Stress in Poll in America.
“This investigation reveals a secondary crisis which is likely to have persistent and serious consequences on mental and physical health for years to come,” he said in a press release from the association.
To find out how Americans coped with the COVID-19 pandemic, the APA interviewed more than 3,000 adults online from February 19 to 24.
While most struggle in one way or another, parents, essential workers and members of minority groups have been particularly affected, the survey found.
Since the start of the pandemic, 6 in 10 respondents said they had experienced unwanted weight changes, with 42% gaining more than expected – around 29 pounds on average.
Of those who gained, half gained at least 15 pounds and 1 in 10 gained more than 50. Meanwhile, 18% reported losing more weight than they wanted, and the average loss was of 26 pounds.
Shut-eye is suffering and alcohol consumption is on the rise. Two-thirds of respondents sleep more or less than they would like, and nearly one in four has drunk more to cope with their stress.
While 3 in 10 said their mental health had taken a nosedive, this was especially true among parents. Almost half – 47% – of mothers and 30% of fathers who still have children at home for distance learning reported deteriorating mental health.
Compared to adults without children, parents were more likely to have been diagnosed and treated for a mental health disorder.
The struggles were pronounced among minority groups: Hispanic adults were the most likely to report unwanted changes in sleep, physical activity, and weight.
Black Americans were the most likely to be concerned about the future, and more than half said they didn’t feel comfortable living the way they did before the pandemic.
Americans of all groups are reluctant to resume face-to-face interactions once the pandemic is over. This includes 57% of black respondents, 51% of Asians, 50% of Hispanics, and 47% of white respondents.
And adults who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are just as likely to hesitate about the future as those who have not.
Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on essential workers, such as those in healthcare and law enforcement.
More than half – 54% – said they adopted unhealthy habits to help them cope with stress from COVID-19. Almost 3 in 10 said their mental health had deteriorated and 3 in 4 said they could have used more emotional support.
Compared to other adults, essential workers were also more than twice as likely to have received a mental health diagnosis and treatment since the start of the pandemic.
Evans said the results were a call to action.
“Health and policy makers must come together quickly to provide additional health behavioral supports as part of any national stimulus package,” Evans said.
More information
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on mental health and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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