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COVID-19 Cases and Google Searches for Mental Health.docx (133.6 kB)
Download fileThe Association Between New COVID-19 Cases and Google Searches for Mental Health
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posted on 2020-06-09, 23:02 authored by Patrick Tennant, Jennifer GonzalezJennifer Gonzalez, Melissa Rowan, Catie Hilbelink, Quianta MooreMental health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic and societal changes are an important matter of public health. We examined the state-level association between new cases of COVID-19 reported and mental health, as measured through Google search trends, on a daily basis. Our analyses indicate a significant positive association, such that increases in mental health Google searches should be expected on days when relatively more new cases of COVID-19 are announced. The overall effect and state-level variation were analyzed via a multi-level model and full results are included here. Implications and public policy suggestions are discussed.
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No funding was received to support this work.
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Declaration of conflicts of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.Corresponding author email
pstennant@rice.eduLead author country
United StatesLead author job role
Independent researcherLead author institution
Rice University's Baker Institute for Public PolicyHuman Participants
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