Anxiety Levels Throughout the Covid Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Age Groups and U.S. States
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Author:
Zhu, Alex
Area of Honors:
Data Sciences
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Kaamran Raahemifar, Thesis Supervisor Edward J Glantz, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Data Analytics Machine Learning
Abstract:
Mental health is a crucial component of overall health and well-being, encompassing
emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It significantly influences individuals' thoughts,
feelings, and actions, playing a vital role in their capacity to cope with stress, foster relationships,
and make decisions. Regrettably, mental health disorders are widespread and can result in severe
consequences such as disability, social isolation, and, in extreme cases, suicide.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health, exacerbating preexisting mental health conditions and giving rise to new ones. This paper aims to explore the
current state of knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, with a
particular focus on the ways in which social isolation, economic instability, and increased rates of
domestic violence and child abuse have affected mental well-being.
To better understand these issues, the paper will delve into the psychological effects of the
pandemic by comparing and analyzing the levels of stress experienced by people of different age
groups and from various U.S. states as the Covid pandemic progressed from 2020 to 2021. In doing
so, we will examine how the pandemic contributes to feelings of loneliness, depression, and
anxiety. Additionally, we will analyze the role of economic instability during the pandemic, which
has caused job loss, financial strain, and social instability, all of which contribute to deteriorating
mental health.
