Comparing psychological distress in Australians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To determine if psychological distress has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify predictors of distress.Method Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores from nationally representative Australian samples before (n = 955) 1173) pandemic were compared. The sample also completed additional attitudinal scales.Results reported significantly higher than pre-pandemic sample, especially among Melbourne residents, women, younger older Australians. Stress attributed COVID-19, feeling management is out control, an unwillingness vaccinate predictive distress.Conclusions Women, youth, residents most vulnerable negative effects on wellbeing, while feelings related a loss stress about virus, vaccine hesitancy may have contributed distress.