The differential impact of worry profiles on depression during COVID-19

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between varying forms of worry and depression-related outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) provided the data, encompassing 2702 individuals born between 1980 and 1984. RESULTS: The results show that before the pandemic, excessive worriers were more susceptible to depressive symptoms. This relationship shifted during the pandemic, wherein lower and intermediate worriers demonstrated an increased propensity for depressive symptoms, outpacing, though not overcoming, excessive worriers. The risk of experiencing depressive symptoms became more equivalent among lower, intermediate, and excessive worriers during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: These findings detail a novel relationship between worry and depression resulting from COVID-19 and have implications for mental health professionals and policymakers grappling with the complexities of managing mental health challenges amid public health crises. (Cite this article as: Lassi NM. The differential impact of worry profiles on depression during COVID-19. Minerva Psychiatry 2024;65:323-34. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6612.24.02499-0)