Associations between COVID-19 perceptions, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among adults living in the United States

•Symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.•COVID-19 concern is associated with higher depressive and lower anxiety symptoms.•An emotional response to COVID-19 is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Emotional response and perceived poor control of COVID-19 also are associated.•SARS-CoV-2 mitigation information should balance cognitive and emotional needs. Associations among illness perceptions of viruses, anxiety and depression symptoms, and self-management decisions, such as mask-wearing, are critical to informing public health practices to mitigate the short- and long-term consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 viral pandemic. Guided by the common-sense model of self-regulation, this observational study examined associations among illness perceptions of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression symptoms among community-dwelling adults. Data were collected from 1380 adults living in the United States early in the pandemic (03-23-2020 to 06-02-2020). Participants completed online surveys. Analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and correlations. While increased anxiety symptoms were associated with less perceived personal control, greater concern, and higher emotional responsiveness, increased depression symptoms were related to lower concern as well as greater emotional responsiveness and perceived consequences of the pandemic. Associations among illness perceptions, anxiety, and depression symptoms may impact viral spread mitigation behavior adoption.