Is Google Trends a useful tool for tracking mental and social distress during a public health emergency?: A time-series analysis

Duleeka  Knipe; David J Gunnell; Hannah Evans; Ann John; Daisy  Fancourt

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.086

Is Google Trends a useful tool for tracking mental and social distress during a public health emergency? A time-series analysis

Duleeka Knipe, David J Gunnell^*, Hannah Evans, Ann John, Daisy Fancourt

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

Background Google Trends data are increasingly used by researchers as an indicator of population mental health, but few studies have investigated the validity of this approach during a public health emergency. Methods Relative search volumes (RSV) for the topics depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and abuse were obtained from Google Trends. We used graphical and time-series approaches to compare daily trends in searches for these topics against population measures of these outcomes recorded using validated self-report scales (PHQ-9; GAD-7; UCLA-3) in a weekly survey (n=∼70,000) of the impact COVID-19 on psychological and social experiences in the UK population (12/03/2020 to 21/08/ 2020). Results Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidal ideation, self-harm, loneliness and abuse decreased during the period studied. There was no evidence of an association between self-reported anxiety, self-harm, abuse and RSV on Google Trends. Trends in Google topic RSV for depression and suicidal ideation were inversely associated with self-reports of these outcomes (p=0.03 and p=0.04 respectively). However, there was statistical and graphical evidence that self-report and Google searches for loneliness (p<0.001) tracked one another. Limitations No age/sex breakdown of Google Trends data are available. Survey respondents were not representative of the UK population and no pre-pandemic data were available. Conclusion Google Trends data do not appear to be a useful indicator of changing levels of population mental health during a public health emergency, but may have some value as an indicator of loneliness.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	737-744
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume	294
Early online date	9 Jul 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.086
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation (WEL/FR-000022583), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation (ES/S002588/1), and by the Wellcome Trust (221400/Z/20/Z). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust (205407/Z/16/Z). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [204813] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol. DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17211).

Funding Information:
This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation ( WEL/FR-000022583 ), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation ( ES/S002588/1 ), and by the Wellcome Trust ( 221400/Z/20/Z ). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust ( 205407/Z/16/Z ). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [ 204813 ] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research , University of Bristol . DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council ( MC_PC_17211 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021

Research Groups and Themes

SASH

Keywords

Mental Health
Pandemic
Suicide
Depression
Anxiety
Domestic violence

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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NIHR BRC Mental Health
Gunnell, D. J. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/17 → 31/03/22
Project: Research, Parent

Cite this

@article{9f5f3799622c419dac00a7cc66122ffe,

title = "Is Google Trends a useful tool for tracking mental and social distress during a public health emergency?: A time-series analysis",

abstract = "Background Google Trends data are increasingly used by researchers as an indicator of population mental health, but few studies have investigated the validity of this approach during a public health emergency. Methods Relative search volumes (RSV) for the topics depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and abuse were obtained from Google Trends. We used graphical and time-series approaches to compare daily trends in searches for these topics against population measures of these outcomes recorded using validated self-report scales (PHQ-9; GAD-7; UCLA-3) in a weekly survey (n=∼70,000) of the impact COVID-19 on psychological and social experiences in the UK population (12/03/2020 to 21/08/ 2020). Results Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidal ideation, self-harm, loneliness and abuse decreased during the period studied. There was no evidence of an association between self-reported anxiety, self-harm, abuse and RSV on Google Trends. Trends in Google topic RSV for depression and suicidal ideation were inversely associated with self-reports of these outcomes (p=0.03 and p=0.04 respectively). However, there was statistical and graphical evidence that self-report and Google searches for loneliness (p<0.001) tracked one another. Limitations No age/sex breakdown of Google Trends data are available. Survey respondents were not representative of the UK population and no pre-pandemic data were available. Conclusion Google Trends data do not appear to be a useful indicator of changing levels of population mental health during a public health emergency, but may have some value as an indicator of loneliness.",

keywords = "Mental Health, Pandemic, Suicide, Depression, Anxiety, Domestic violence",

author = "Duleeka Knipe and Gunnell, {David J} and Hannah Evans and Ann John and Daisy Fancourt",

note = "Funding Information: This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation (WEL/FR-000022583), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation (ES/S002588/1), and by the Wellcome Trust (221400/Z/20/Z). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust (205407/Z/16/Z). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [204813] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol. DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17211). Funding Information: This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation ( WEL/FR-000022583 ), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation ( ES/S002588/1 ), and by the Wellcome Trust ( 221400/Z/20/Z ). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust ( 205407/Z/16/Z ). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [ 204813 ] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research , University of Bristol . DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council ( MC_PC_17211 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.086",

language = "English",

volume = "294",

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T1 - Is Google Trends a useful tool for tracking mental and social distress during a public health emergency?

T2 - A time-series analysis

AU - Knipe, Duleeka

AU - Gunnell, David J

AU - Evans, Hannah

AU - John, Ann

AU - Fancourt, Daisy

N1 - Funding Information: This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation (WEL/FR-000022583), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation (ES/S002588/1), and by the Wellcome Trust (221400/Z/20/Z). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust (205407/Z/16/Z). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [204813] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol. DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17211). Funding Information: This COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation ( WEL/FR-000022583 ), but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental Health Network, funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation ( ES/S002588/1 ), and by the Wellcome Trust ( 221400/Z/20/Z ). DF was funded by the Wellcome Trust ( 205407/Z/16/Z ). This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the University of Bristol [ 204813 ] which supports DK. DK is also supported through the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research , University of Bristol . DG is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, England. AJ and HE are supported by the Medical Research Council ( MC_PC_17211 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2021

PY - 2021/11/1

Y1 - 2021/11/1

N2 - Background Google Trends data are increasingly used by researchers as an indicator of population mental health, but few studies have investigated the validity of this approach during a public health emergency. Methods Relative search volumes (RSV) for the topics depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and abuse were obtained from Google Trends. We used graphical and time-series approaches to compare daily trends in searches for these topics against population measures of these outcomes recorded using validated self-report scales (PHQ-9; GAD-7; UCLA-3) in a weekly survey (n=∼70,000) of the impact COVID-19 on psychological and social experiences in the UK population (12/03/2020 to 21/08/ 2020). Results Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidal ideation, self-harm, loneliness and abuse decreased during the period studied. There was no evidence of an association between self-reported anxiety, self-harm, abuse and RSV on Google Trends. Trends in Google topic RSV for depression and suicidal ideation were inversely associated with self-reports of these outcomes (p=0.03 and p=0.04 respectively). However, there was statistical and graphical evidence that self-report and Google searches for loneliness (p<0.001) tracked one another. Limitations No age/sex breakdown of Google Trends data are available. Survey respondents were not representative of the UK population and no pre-pandemic data were available. Conclusion Google Trends data do not appear to be a useful indicator of changing levels of population mental health during a public health emergency, but may have some value as an indicator of loneliness.

AB - Background Google Trends data are increasingly used by researchers as an indicator of population mental health, but few studies have investigated the validity of this approach during a public health emergency. Methods Relative search volumes (RSV) for the topics depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and abuse were obtained from Google Trends. We used graphical and time-series approaches to compare daily trends in searches for these topics against population measures of these outcomes recorded using validated self-report scales (PHQ-9; GAD-7; UCLA-3) in a weekly survey (n=∼70,000) of the impact COVID-19 on psychological and social experiences in the UK population (12/03/2020 to 21/08/ 2020). Results Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidal ideation, self-harm, loneliness and abuse decreased during the period studied. There was no evidence of an association between self-reported anxiety, self-harm, abuse and RSV on Google Trends. Trends in Google topic RSV for depression and suicidal ideation were inversely associated with self-reports of these outcomes (p=0.03 and p=0.04 respectively). However, there was statistical and graphical evidence that self-report and Google searches for loneliness (p<0.001) tracked one another. Limitations No age/sex breakdown of Google Trends data are available. Survey respondents were not representative of the UK population and no pre-pandemic data were available. Conclusion Google Trends data do not appear to be a useful indicator of changing levels of population mental health during a public health emergency, but may have some value as an indicator of loneliness.

KW - Mental Health

KW - Pandemic

KW - Suicide

KW - Depression

KW - Anxiety

KW - Domestic violence

U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.086

DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.086

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 34348169

SN - 0165-0327

VL - 294

SP - 737

EP - 744

JO - Journal of Affective Disorders

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders

ER -