Background: The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of populations are an important public health issue. Our study aims to determine the underlying factors shaping mental health trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Methods: Data from the Understanding Society COVID-19 Study were utilized and the core analysis focussed on GHQ36 scores as the outcome variable. We used GAMs to evaluate trends over time and the role of sociodemographic variables, i.e., age, sex, ethnicity, country of residence (in UK), job status (employment), household income, living with a partner, living with children under age 16, and living with a long-term illness, on the variation of mental health during the study period. Results: Statistically significant differences in mental health were observed for age, sex,ethnicity, country of residence (in UK), job status (employment), household income, living with a partner, living with children under age 16, and living with a long-term illness. Women experienced higher GHQ36 scores relative to men with the GHQ36 score expected to increase by 1.260 (95%CI: 1.176, 1.345). Individuals living without a partner were expected to have higher GHQ36 scores, of 1.050 (95%CI: 0.949, 1.148) more than those living with a partner, and age groups 16-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 experienced higher GHQ36 scores relative to those who were 65+. Individuals with relatively lower household income were likely to have poorer mental health relative to those who were more well off. Conclusion: This study identifies key demographic determinants shaping mental health trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Policies aiming to reduce mental health inequalities should target women, youth, individuals living without a partner, individuals living with children under 16, individuals with a long-term illness, and lower income families.

翻译：背景：COVID-19大流行对人群心理健康与福祉的负面影响是重要的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在确定英国COVID-19疫情期间影响心理健康轨迹的关键因素。方法：利用"理解社会COVID-19研究"数据，核心分析以GHQ36量表得分作为结果变量。采用广义加性模型评估时间趋势及社会人口学变量（包括年龄、性别、族裔、居住国（英国境内）、职业状态（就业状况）、家庭收入、伴侣同居状态、与16岁以下子女同住状态以及长期疾病共存状态）在研究期间对心理健康变异的影响。结果：在年龄、性别、族裔、居住国（英国境内）、职业状态（就业状况）、家庭收入、伴侣同居状态、与16岁以下子女同住状态以及长期疾病共存状态方面观察到具有统计学显著性的心理健康差异。相较于男性，女性GHQ36得分预计高出1.260分（95%CI: 1.176, 1.345）。无伴侣同居者的GHQ36得分预计比有伴侣同居者高1.050分（95%CI: 0.949, 1.148）。16-34岁、35-44岁、45-54岁、55-64岁年龄组的GHQ36得分均显著高于65岁以上组。家庭收入相对较低者相较于经济状况较好者更可能呈现较差的心理健康状况。结论：本研究识别出英国COVID-19疫情期间塑造心理健康轨迹的关键人口学决定因素。旨在减少心理健康不平等的政策应重点关注女性、青年群体、无伴侣同居者、与16岁以下子女同住者、长期疾病患者及低收入家庭。