Older adults’ anxiety and depression eased in the months after the 2020 shutdown, then crept back as restrictions returned, a year‑long study finds.

A prospective study of nearly 500 adults aged 50–89 in southwestern France tracked anxiety and depression from the spring 2020 lockdown through the following year. The share of participants with “poor mental health” (elevated scores on standard anxiety or depression screens) fell from 30.3% during lockdown to 24.1% at both 1 and 6 months, but rose to 27.8% at 12 months, coinciding with renewed restrictions in 2021. The bar chart on page 5 of the paper illustrates this U‑shaped trajectory.      

What the researchers did

The team enrolled 534 adults during France’s first nationwide lockdown (March–May 2020) and followed them by phone during lockdown, and then at 1, 6 and 12 months afterward. Anxiety (GAD‑7) and depression (PHQ‑9) were measured at each time point; people already on treatment for anxiety or depression at enrollment were excluded. Analyses focused on 495 participants with complete data.    

Who was most at risk of lasting distress?

When the researchers looked for early and long‑lasting worsening that persisted across interviews, several factors stood out:

• History of anxiety (about 4.4× higher odds).
• Female sex (about 2.4× higher odds).
• Working during lockdown (about 2.4× higher odds).
• Difficulty getting groceries (about 2.9× higher odds).
• Having a relative with suspected or confirmed COVID‑19 (about 2.1× higher odds).
• Doing fewer household chores than before lockdown (about 2.0× higher odds).

By contrast, being in good health before lockdown and being in a relationship were protective (each roughly halvedthe odds).    

Why it matters

Most people rebounded as restrictions eased, but a meaningful minority did not—especially those facing health vulnerabilities, caregiving stress, or practical hurdles (like shopping). The authors note that the late uptick at 12 months “likely” reflects the reinstatement of strict measures in 2021, underscoring how policy choices can ripple through mental health. Targeted supports—ensuring safe access to essentials, checking in on people with prior anxiety, and bolstering social connection—may blunt those effects in future public‑health emergencies.  

Caveats

This study reflects one region of France and an older population; findings may not generalize to younger adults or other areas. As an observational study, it can’t prove cause and effect.  

Bottom line

In this cohort of French adults over 50, mental health improved after the first lockdown but slipped back by a year, with clear risk and protective factors that policymakers and community leaders can use to tailor support the next time crisis measures are needed. (Frontiers in Public Health, March 12, 2025.)  

Mongeau, M., Huo Yung Kai, S., Bongard, V., Coley, N., Bérard, E., & Ferrières, J. (2025). One-year post lockdown trajectories of mental health and impact of COVID-19 lockdown-related factors. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1457895. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1457895