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COVID-19 Cases and Google Searches for Mental Health.docx (133.6 kB)
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The 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 Moore
Mental 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.

Funding

No funding was received to support this work.

History

Declaration of conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Corresponding author email

pstennant@rice.edu

Lead author country

  • United States

Lead author job role

  • Independent researcher

Lead author institution

Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Human Participants

  • No

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