Trajectories of major depression and generalized anxiety symptoms among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People with disabilities (PWD) have reported higher major depression (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic than others in the general population, with social isolation and disability stigma as key predictors of heightened symptomatology. However, the nature and predictors of PWD's MD and GAD symptom trajectories during the pandemic and after other potentially traumatic events remain largely unknown. The present study aimed to (a) document PWD's MD and GAD symptom trajectories during the pandemic and (b) examine social isolation and disability stigma as predictors of trajectory membership. A convenience sample of PWD recruited from disability-focused social media groups and Listserv (N = 200) completed a longitudinal study, with surveys in October-December 2020 (Time 1), November-December 2021 (Time 2), and October-December 2022 (Time 3). Participants reported on social isolation, disability stigma, demographic and disability characteristics, and pandemic-related stressors at Time 1, and MD and GAD symptoms at each wave. Latent class growth analysis detected three MD symptom trajectories (Mild-Decreasing: 40.5%; Moderate-Decreasing: 43.0%; Moderately Severe-Stable: 16.5%), and three GAD trajectories (Mild-Decreasing: 40.5%; Moderate-Decreasing: 41.5%; Severe-Stable: 18.0%). In adjusted models, higher social isolation was associated with higher odds of membership in the Moderately Severe-Stable MD trajectory versus the Mild- and Moderate-Decreasing MD trajectories, and higher odds of membership in the Moderate-Decreasing GAD trajectory versus the Mild-Decreasing GAD trajectory. The results demonstrate the persistent MD and GAD symptoms experienced by many PWD during the pandemic and the importance of interventions to address PWD's social isolation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).