摘要：There is evidence that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the mental health of individuals. The aim of this study, from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study, was to identify trajectories of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptomology during the first UK national lockdown. We also sought to explore risk and protective factors. Method: This was a longitudinal, three-wave survey of UK adults conducted online. Analysis used growth mixture modelling and logistic regressions. Results: Data was collected from 1958 adults. A robust 4-class model for anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptomology uniquely distinguished participants in relation to the severity and stability of symptomology. Classes described low and stable and high and stable symptomology and symptomology that improved or declined across the study period. We identified a number of risk and protection factors that predicted membership of classes with elevated and clinically significant mental distress at some point during the study. These included mental health factors, sociodemographic factors, and worries related to COVID-19. Conclusions: Limitations: The sample was not representative of the UK population and data was self-reported. Online data collection may have excluded participants with limited digital engagement. Conclusions: This is the first study to report trajectories describing a differential impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of UK adults. Some adults experienced mental distress throughout, some were more vulnerable in the early weeks, and for others, vulnerability was delayed. These findings emphasise the need for appropriate mental health support interventions to promote improved outcomes in the COBID-19 recovery phase and future pandemics.
