Older adults saw anxiety/depression ease after restrictions lifted—researchers flag who stayed at higher risk and how to target support next time.
A French team tracked nearly 500 adults aged 50+ through and after the first national COVID‑19 lockdown and found that symptoms of anxiety and depression fell one month and six months after restrictions eased—but that progress stalled by 12 months, when new national measures were reintroduced in 2021. The study, published March 12, 2025 in Frontiers in Public Health, followed participants by phone during lockdown, and again at 1, 6, and 12 months, using standard screening tools (GAD‑7 for anxiety; PHQ‑9 for depression).
A chart in the paper (page 5) shows the share of people with at least mild anxiety or depression dropping at the 1‑ and 6‑month check‑ins, then leveling off at the 12‑month mark—mirroring the return of tighter public‑health rules that spring.
Who was most at risk of worsening mental health over the year?
Using multivariable analyses, the researchers pinpointed several factors linked to early and persistent deterioration (defined as poor scores appearing early and lasting across interviews):
- History of anxiety (adjusted OR 4.40) and female gender (aOR 2.38).
- Working during lockdown (aOR 2.37).
- Trouble getting groceries (aOR 2.90), and having a relative with suspected or confirmed COVID‑19 (aOR 2.11).
- Spending less time on household chores than before lockdown (aOR 2.05).Protective factors included good self‑rated health before lockdown (aOR 0.42) and being in a relationshipduring lockdown (aOR 0.40).
Not everyone struggled long‑term: about 8% of participants had sustained poor mental health from lockdown through the entire 12‑month follow‑up, while many improved after the first months.
Why this matters
The authors followed older adults (average age ~66; 52% women), a group more likely to experience strict shielding and to be at higher risk for severe COVID‑19. Their takeaway: targeted support—especially for women, people with prior anxiety, those working through lockdowns, or facing basic‑needs barriers like food access—could blunt mental‑health fallout in future waves or pandemics.
How the study worked
Participants (recruited during France’s spring 2020 lockdown) completed four structured phone interviews; those already in treatment for anxiety or depression at enrollment were excluded to better capture new or evolving distress. Outcomes were based on validated cutoffs (scores >4 on GAD‑7 or PHQ‑9), capturing at least mild symptoms and allowing the team to map trajectories over time.
Bottom line for readers
Mental health broadly rebounded after the first lockdown, but stressors tied to daily life and caregiving (like shopping hurdles or illness in the family) tipped some people into longer‑lasting distress. Planning for the next crisis means pairing public‑health rules with practical supports (food access, social connection, mental‑health check‑ins) for those most at risk.
Source: Mongeau M, Huo Yung Kai S, Bongard V, et al. “One‑year post‑lockdown trajectories of mental health and impact of COVID‑19 lockdown‑related factors,” Frontiers in Public Health*, March 12, 2025.*
Editor’s note: This article is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.