Table 1 compares the demographic and symptom characteristics of the two samples. Patients in the COVID-19 sample were more likely to be female and were less likely to be employed. Despite the lower proportion in employment, there was no difference in reported psychosocial stressors, including financial stress or concerns about physical health. The COVID-19 sample had higher anxiety symptoms, and more people who self-reported being anxious than the comparison sample. A greater proportion of the COVID-19 sample reported that symptoms of anxiety and depression had emerged within the previous two weeks, although the proportions were still small. However, no differences were found in the level of symptoms of psychological distress, depression, or suicidal thoughts or plans.
Table 1 Comparison of demographic and symptom characteristics.
Comparison sample1–28 September 2019 COVID-19 sample19 March–15 April 2020 Significance
Demographics
Mean age (SD), range 35.0 (13.5), 18–86 34.9 (13.6), 18–92 F = 0.04, p = .84
18–29 years 43.6% (720/1650) 44.6% (744/1668) ꭙ2 = 0.32, p = .57
35–54 years 45.6% (752/1650) 43.9% (732/1668) ꭙ2 = 0.96, p = .33
55 years and over 10.8% (178/1650) 11.5% (192/1668) ꭙ2 = 0.44, p = .51
Proportion female 72.9% (1203/1650) 76.9% (1282/1668) ꭙ2 = 6.67, p = .01⁎⁎
Capital city or surrounding suburbs 60.4% (932/1544) 58.7% (904/1541) ꭙ2 = 0.92, p = .34
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 4.7% (55/1163) 3.3% (39/1188) ꭙ2 = 3.20, p = .07
University education 42.4% (654/1543) 41.2% (633/1535) ꭙ2 = 0.42, p = .52
Employed full or part time 60.8% (939/1544) 52.8% (811/1536) ꭙ2 = 20.17, p < .001⁎⁎⁎
Marital status 36.9% (568/1541) 34.7% (534/1539) ꭙ2 = 1.39, p = .24



Psychosocial stressors% (number) of patients who indicated the following stressors were a current concern
Relationships with friends or family 53.4% (881/1650) 52.7% (879/1668) ꭙ2 = 0.16, p = .69
Work, study, or vocational activities 47.9% (791/1650) 44.8% (748/1668) ꭙ2 = 3.20, p = .07
Physical health 37.6% (621/1650) 35.2% (587/1668) ꭙ2 = 2.14, p = .14
Finances 26.2% (432/1650) 24.6% (410/1668) ꭙ2 = 1.12, p = .29



Psychological symptoms
K-10 (mean and SD) 31.2 (7.6) 31.4 (7.8) F = 0.52, p = .47
PHQ-9 (mean and SD) 14.3 (6.2) 14.4 (6.2) F = 0.24, p = .63
GAD-7 (mean and SD) 12.1 (5.1) 12.5 (5.3) F = 4.13, p < .05⁎
Self-reported anxiety 86.2% (1317/1528) 89.3% (1341/1502) ꭙ2 = 6.74, p < .01⁎⁎
Anxiety < two weeks 3.0% (39/1317) 5.4% (73/1341) ꭙ2 = 9.97, p < .01⁎⁎
Self-reported depression 69.5% (1062/1528) 69.0% (1037/1502) ꭙ2 = 0.08, p = .78
Depression < two weeks 4.0% (43/1062) 6.8% (71/1037) ꭙ2 = 7.90, p < .01⁎⁎
Suicidal thoughts 30.6% (423/1383) 27.5% (367/1334) ꭙ2 = 3.11, p = .08
Suicidal intentions or plans 3.7% (51/1383) 2.9% (39/1334) ꭙ2 = 1.24, p = .27
⁎ p < .05.
⁎⁎ p < .01.
⁎⁎⁎ p < .001.