Investigating the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Different Demographics

Authors

  • Melissa Wu Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Emily Yu Oakton High School
  • Aditi Kodali Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Kevina Wang Oakton High School
  • Ray Chen Marriotts Ridge High School
  • Karen Song Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Victoria Wang Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Sophia Li Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Andrew Zhong River Hill High School
  • David Liu Glenelg High School
  • Elaine Zhang James Madison High School
  • Jonathan Luu Chantilly High School
  • Kathleen Yao Fairfax High School
  • Songhan Pang McLean High School
  • Austin Zhang Langley High School
  • Hanna Deller James Madison High School
  • Drishika Bose Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
  • Angela Chen Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
  • Dr. Yuhsien Wu Mentor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i3.1554

Keywords:

COVID-19, United States, employment income loss, economy, mental health, anxiety, depression, recession, race, income bracket, age group, gender, demographic

Abstract

With increases in unemployment and individuals experiencing mental health symptoms, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have become a prevalent issue in society. The purpose of this paper is to educate communities about the current effects of COVID-19 on the economy as well as mental health. We aim to establish connections between economic hardships and patterns of depression and anxiety across different demographic groups within the U.S. labor force participation pool aged 18 or older. We analyzed existing literature on past recessions, past pandemics, and the current pandemic’s impacts. The findings from past literature suggest that the pandemic has caused various economic impacts which in turn affect mental health, particularly
anxiety and depression rates. We used data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS) to conduct chi-squared tests of independence on employment income loss and symptoms of anxiety and depression over 12 weeks of the pandemic. For each demographic variable (race, income level, gender, and age), we found an association between each category
and experienced employment income loss. The tests yielded the same conclusions for the data of the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

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Published

10-10-2021

How to Cite

Wu, M., Yu, E., Kodali, A., Wang, K., Chen, R. ., Song, K., Wang, V., Li, S., Zhong, A., Liu, D. ., Zhang, E., Luu, J. ., Yao, K., Pang, S., Zhang, A., Deller, H., Bose, D., Chen, A., & Wu, Y. (2021). Investigating the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Different Demographics. Journal of Student Research, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i3.1554

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