* April 2020 measures are from wave 1 of the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Civic Life and Public Health Survey, fielded April 7-13, 2020 (N = 1468 adults aged ≥18 years). 2018 Measures of psychological distress are from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (N = 25 417 adults aged ≥18 years). Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale, with scores of 13 or higher indicating serious psychological distress.
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Share of U.S. adults with psychological distress before and during COVID-19 by group
The demographic groups which reported the highest levels of psychological distress in the U.S. in April 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, were those aged 18-29 years, Hispanic individuals, and those with a household income of below 35,000 U.S. dollars. This statistic shows a comparison between 2018 and April 2020 for these select groups, detailing the percentage of U.S. respondents who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress.
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Journal of the American Medical Association. (June 3, 2020). Percentage of select U.S. demographic groups who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in 2018 and during COVID-19 pandemic* [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/
Journal of the American Medical Association. "Percentage of select U.S. demographic groups who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in 2018 and during COVID-19 pandemic*." Chart. June 3, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/
Journal of the American Medical Association. (2020). Percentage of select U.S. demographic groups who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in 2018 and during COVID-19 pandemic*. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/
Journal of the American Medical Association. "Percentage of Select U.S. Demographic Groups Who Reported Symptoms of Serious Psychological Distress in 2018 and during Covid-19 Pandemic*." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 3 Jun 2020, /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/
Journal of the American Medical Association, Percentage of select U.S. demographic groups who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in 2018 and during COVID-19 pandemic* ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Percentage of select U.S. demographic groups who reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in 2018 and during COVID-19 pandemic* [Graph], Journal of the American Medical Association, June 3, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1174188/covid-psychological-distress-us-and-covid-impact-by-group/
