Levels of depression and anxiety rose sharply last month in the UK, especially among young adults, reaching similar levels to lockdown at the start of 2021.
The latest phase of the COVID-19 Social Study looked at the experiences of 31,151 people during December, and found a drop since November in reported life satisfaction and happiness.
Both life satisfaction and happiness reached their lowest levels since March 2021, the UCL-led research found.
Additionally, the study revealed that confidence in devolved governments’ handling of COVID-19 fell in England and Wales over the same period – between the end of November and start of January – but remained steady in Scotland.
In England, the level of confidence was close to the lowest level recorded during the pandemic back in October 2020.
Lead author Dr Daisy Fancourt, of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said: “The findings reported here highlight the ongoing adverse effects of the pandemic on mental health.
“Even though there were many fewer restrictions this Christmas compared with Christmas 2020, levels of anxiety and depression were on a par with the same time last year.
“Our findings suggest that it is not just the presence of social restrictions that affect mental health but also concerns and stressors relating to high levels of the virus and a high risk of infection.
“The decrease in confidence in government to handle the pandemic likely contributed to the stresses many people faced over this period.”
In terms of people’s concerns about COVID-19, the study showed that the proportion of people concerned about catching or becoming seriously ill from the virus increased sharply over the Christmas period, with:
- 43 per cent of respondents saying catching COVID-19 was a major concern
- 46 per cent worried about becoming seriously ill from COVID-19
- 58 per cent concerned about family or friends catching COVID-19
- 52 per cent reporting that the possibility of developing Long COVID was a major concern
Three in four (73 per cent) people reported being concerned about non-COVID-19 NHS treatment being cancelled, postponed or otherwise adversely affected over the next three months.
A further 64 per cent of respondents also had a major worry about hospitals being overwhelmed. These fears were greatest amongst adults over the age of 30 compared to adults aged 18 to 29.
Meanwhile, 86 per cent of respondents reported that their experiences and behaviours had been different over the Christmas period compared to typical Christmases, such as staying at home more, changing travel plans, meeting up with fewer people, shopping online rather than in-store, avoiding large gatherings, and making fewer plans.
Younger adults (aged 18 to 29) reported the fewest differences to usual compared to older adults.
Compliance with guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 slightly increased over the Christmas period, indicating that people tightened up their behaviours. This pattern was seen clearly in 30 to 59-year-olds and 60+ year olds.
However, only four in 10 (43 per cent) people said they currently understood the rules fully or near fully and one in 10 (10 per cent) said they did not understand them at all.
Older adults were more likely over the Christmas period to maintain a safe distance when meeting (30 per cent always did among those aged 60+, compared to nine per cent of those aged 18 to 29) as well as washing their hands, wearing face masks, increasing ventilation in indoor spaces and meeting outdoors, but adults under the age of 60 were more likely to take lateral flow tests and ask others to take them, the survey found.
