Comparing psychological distress in Australians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine if psychological distress has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify predictors of distress. Method: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores from nationally representative Australian samples before (n = 955) and during (n = 1173) the pandemic were compared. The pandemic sample also completed additional COVID-19 attitudinal scales. Results: The pandemic sample reported significantly higher distress than the pre-pandemic sample, especially among Melbourne residents, women, and younger and older Australians. Stress attributed to COVID-19, feeling the pandemic management is out of control, and an unwillingness to vaccinate were also predictive of psychological distress. Conclusions: Women, youth, and Melbourne residents were most vulnerable to the negative effects of COVID-19 on wellbeing, while feelings related to a loss of control, stress about the virus, and vaccine hesitancy may have also contributed to psychological distress. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.