Prevalence rates of anxiety, depressive, and eating pathology symptoms between the pre- and peri-COVID-19 eras: A meta-analysis

COVID-19 emerged in 2019 and has since killed more than two and a half million people worldwide. Several studies have investigated the role of COVID-19 on the prevalence of mental health outcomes, with general findings indicating elevated rates of mental health issues as compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. However, the effect of specific demographic features is less clear. As such, we investigated whether anxiety, depressive, and eating pathology symptoms varied by gender, age, status as a medical provider (compared to the general public), race, or region of origin. Forty-three effect sizes from 36 studies indicated that all three symptoms increased from pre- to peri‑COVID-19-eras across all regions. No symptom varied by age, status as a medical provider, or race, though females were significantly more likely to experience eating pathology than males. Findings from our study indicate that worldwide, regardless of age, status as a medical provider, race, or region of origin, respondents experienced significantly elevated rates of psychopathology symptoms during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.