Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41211412›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025

A systematic review of impacts of COVID-19 on depression and anxiety among general populations around the world.

Jianbo Hou, Wenjie Duan, Yuqian Wang, Yujing Liao, He Bu, Wenlong Mu, Xiaoqing Tang, Dong Liu

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jianbo HouSchool of International Education, Xi'an Technological University, Xi'an, China.
Wenjie DuanSocial and Public Administration School, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Yuqian WangSocial and Public Administration School, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Yujing LiaoSocial and Public Administration School, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
He BuSocial and Public Administration School, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Wenlong MuSchool of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Xiaoqing TangCollege for Public Wellbeing, Shanghai Open University, Shanghai, China.
Dong LiuDepartment of Social Work, Shanghai Business School, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global mental health, with significant disparities in depression and anxiety observed across populations and countries. Existing literature highlights the role of social determinants of health (SDH) in shaping mental health outcomes, yet systematic reviews synthesizing these impacts across diverse socioeconomic and policy contexts remain limited. This study provides an overview of how COVID-19 is affecting depression and anxiety among general populations, alongside inequalities driven by the SDH. Methods: Six databases (CNKI, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) were searched from March 2020 to February 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed cross-sectional/longitudinal studies assessing depression/anxiety in adults (≥18 years) using validated scales (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7). After screening 4,916 records, 59 studies met eligibility criteria. Quality assessment utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, and data extraction covered study characteristics, outcomes, and SDH factors. This review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD420251023201. Results: Among 59 studies (39 from low- and middle-income countries [LMICs]; 16 from high-income countries [HICs]), younger individuals, women, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups exhibited heightened vulnerability to depression and anxiety. High-income countries with stringent lockdowns (e.g., the U.S., France) reported sustained psychological distress, while nations adopting effective early containment strategies saw mental health improvements over time. Population-level determinants, including healthcare infrastructure and policy stringency, significantly influenced outcomes. Low-resource settings faced worsened mental health burdens due to prolonged restrictions and limited medical access. Individual and community-level factors such as unemployment, housing instability, and low social support amplified risks. Temporal trends revealed worsening mental health during extended lockdowns and disparities in recovery trajectories across regions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health inequalities, disproportionately affecting specific groups and underscoring the interplay of SDH. Tailored interventions addressing socioeconomic vulnerabilities, enhancing social support, and balancing infection control with psychological well-being are critical. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251023201, identifier CRD420251023201.

Indexed as

AnxietyCOVID-19DepressionGlobal HealthSocial Determinants of HealthAdultFemaleHealth Status DisparitiesHumansMaleMental HealthSARS-CoV-2Socioeconomic FactorsanxietyCOVID-19depressionmental healthsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41211412
PMCPMC12588916

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.