Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a new viral zoonosis of global concern that could cause psychological sequelae. We examined the levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in a Mexican sample. Methods: An online survey was applied which collected information on demographic and financial status data, physical status, contact history, knowledge, concerns, and precautionary measures concerning COVID-19. Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were included. Results: 50.3% of respondents rated psychological distress as moderate-severe; 15.7% reported moderate-severe depressive symptoms; 22.6% reported moderate-severe anxiety symptoms; and 19.8% reported moderate-severe stress levels. Female gender, older age, divorced status, lack confidence related to security of the test, lower satisfaction of health information concerning COVID-19, history of direct or indirect contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case, live with just one other person and spent >9h per day at home were associated with greater psychological distress and/or higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. By contrast, precautionary measures as hand hygiene and wearing masks were associated with lower levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: COVID-19 outbreak results in considerable psychological effects among the Mexican sample.

The present study examined the psychological effects and identify factors associated with worse outcomes, during the COVID-19 outbreak in Mexican nurses involved in fighting against COVID-19. An anonymous online questionnaire was applied through an online survey, which collected information regarding basic information, traumatic distress response (IES-R scale), emotional exhaustion (MBI-EE) and psychological distress (K10 scale). Results showed that 46.72% nurses reported moderate-severe traumatic distress response, 42.40% nurses evidenced a high level of emotional exhaustion and 41.78% showed moderate-severe psychological distress. Nurses who have >2 children, an increase in working hours due to COVID-19, tobacco and alcohol consumption and the increase in the consumption of the both and presence of a confirmed and suspected case of COVID-19 in their workplace showed worse outcomes. These findings demonstrate that a large portion of nurses in Mexico is suffering from psychological disturbances due to COVID-19 outbreak. In the face of a health crisis, not seen in several years in Mexico, the proper psychological well-being of the nurse’s staff at this vulnerable time is essential.

The COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted people’s lives. Within the education system, the teaching mode drastically changed to adapt to the social distancing restrictions due to the pandemic. Consequently, teachers have been facing challenges associated with remote learning in addition to those of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychological state among teachers at two stages: pre-pandemic (November 2019) and during the pandemic (June-July 2020 and June-July 2021). Information regarding demographic data, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), and burnout syndrome (MBI-ES) was collected using validated questionnaires. Results showed a significantly higher scores as well as a higher prevalence in the DASS-21 and the MBI-ES scales, on the second measurement taken during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period and the first evaluation during the pandemic. During the second evaluation on pandemic stage, female teachers of ≥45 years of age with a college-level of education, 11 years of teaching experience, and currently teaching at preschools and primary schools were significantly associated with higher anxiety, stress, EE, and burnout scores. In addition, female teachers aged ≥45 years reported higher PD and PA scores. Finally, an association between burnout syndrome and depression was identified in the evaluations carried out during the pandemic considering both the total sample and the analysis per gender. The study shows that teachers’ mental health has been negatively affected by the pandemic. Efforts from the education system and health authorities are crucial to design and implement strategies to improve teachers’ mental health during the fight against COVID-19.

COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and negative psychological effects among general population. However, university students are particularly vulnerable in terms of mental health. The present study evaluated the association between mental health, quality of sleep, aggression, and physical activity in university students in Mexico after 1 year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, including a gender-sensitive analysis. Participants (935 university students) completed an online questionnaire which collected information regarding demographic data, psychological distress (IES-R scale), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), aggressiveness Buss-Perry Aggressive Questionnaire, sleep quality (PSQI) and physical activity (IPAQ-S). Findings showed that female students showed significantly higher scores in psychological distress, anxiety, stress scores and sleep quality, as compared to male students. By contrast, male students showed significantly higher scores on aggressiveness than female students. In addition, on physical activity, females performed significantly higher MET-min/week on moderate and high levels. Finally, liner regression model accounted for approximately 73.5% of the variance in DASS-21 scores, with the body mass index, IES-R, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and IPAQ subscales, emerging as significant individual (positive) predictors. Therefore, the pandemic affected female and male students differently. Female students reported more psychological distress, anxiety, and stress while male students reported higher aggressiveness. The differences observed may be due to physiological differences, the response to stress, and differences in sensitivity to life events.

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La pandemia de COVID-19 no solo amenaza la salud física de las personas, sino que también podría afectar la salud mental, especialmente a los adultos mayores. Por lo tanto, este trabajo examinó los niveles de angustia psicológica, ansiedad, depresión y estrés al inicio de la pandemia y tras haber transcurrido seis meses, en una muestra de adultos mayores en México. Se aplicó una encuesta en el domicilio de cada adulto mayor, que recopiló información sobre edad, sexo y estado civil, además se incluyó la escala la escala de impacto de eventos revisada (IES-R) y la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés (DASS-21). La recolección de datos se realizó del 30 de marzo al 5 de abril y posteriormente del 30 de agosto al 5 de septiembre. En la primera medición, el 45.70% de los adultos mayores mostraron una angustia psicológica moderada-severa, 53.19% depresión moderada-severa; 64.90% ansiedad moderado-severo y 56.38% mostraron estrés moderado-severo. En la segunda medición el 53.12% mostró una angustia psicológica moderada-severa, 59.58% mostró depresión moderada-severa, 77.66% ansiedad moderada-severa y 67.75% estrés moderado-severo. Se identificó diferencia significativa en todos los parámetros evaluados al comparación la primera evaluación con respecto a la segunda. Por lo tanto, el brote de COVID-19 ha provocado alteraciones psicológicas considerables entre la muestra mexicana de adultos mayores examinada, empeorando tras transcurrir seis meses.

One of the consequences of pandemic is the increase in the prevalence of mental alterations such as anxiety, depression and stress. Since here, we aimed to determinate through a transversal and observational study prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression within hospitalized patients by COVID-19 as well as their likely association with the emotional impact received by relatives with hospitalized patients by COVID-19. Forty-five COVID-19 hospitalized patients with mean age of 54.4 ± 9.6 years and fifty-five relatives with mean age of 43.2 ± 11.8 years answered a questions battery and DASS-21 survey. Our results revealed high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress assessed by DASS-21 subscales. We also identified risk factors associated with the emotional health such as age (< 50 years: depression OR = 2.99 [1.31, 6.80], p < .05 and anxiety OR = 2.83 [1.15, 6.93], p < .05), by gender (female: anxiety OR = 4.13 [1.57, 10.89], p < .05 and stress OR = 5.38 [2.27, 12.8], p < .05), by group of study (relatives: depression OR = 3.83 [1.63, 8.96]; p < .05, anxiety OR = 3.60 [1.46, 8.88]; p < .05 and stress OR = 3.30 [1.41, 7.70]; p < .05). Additionally, female gender and low socioeconomic status in patients (β = 3.23; 1.96) and relatives (β = 1.86; 2.31) were associated with higher scores in anxiety (p < .05) and stress (p < .05). We concluded that our sample of COVID-19 patients maintain a high prevalence of mental alterations and age, gender and socioeconomic status modify the magnitude of these disorders. Una de las consecuencias de la pandemia es el aumento de la prevalencia de alteraciones mentales como la ansiedad, la depresión y el estrés. En este estudio transversal y observacional se evaluó la prevalencia de estrés, ansiedad y depresión en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 así como la probable asociación con el impacto emocional recibido por familiares de pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19. Cuarenta y cinco pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 con una edad promedio de 54.4 ± 9.6 años y cincuenta y cinco familiares de pacientes hospitalizados con una edad promedio de 43.2 ± 11.8 años respondieron una batería de preguntas y la encuesta DASS-21. Nuestros resultados revelaron una alta prevalencia de depresión, ansiedad y estrés identificados por DASS-21. En este estudio identificamos factores de riesgo asociados a la salud emocional como la edad (< 50 años: depresión RM = 2.99 [1.31, 6.80]  p < .05 y ansiedad RM = 2.83 [1.15, 6.93], p < .05), el género (mujeres: ansiedad RM = 4.13 [1.57, 10.89], p <  .05 y estrés RM = 5.38 [2.27, 12.8], p < .05) y el grupo de estudio (familiares: depresión RM = 3.83 [1.63, 8.96]; p < .05 , ansiedad RM = 3.60 [1.46, 8.88]; p < .05 y estrés RM = 3.30 [1.41, 7.70]; p < .05). Además, el género femenino y el nivel socioeconómico bajo de los pacientes (β = 3.23; 1.96) y familiares (β = 1.86; 2.31) se asociaron con puntuaciones más altas en ansiedad (p < .05) y estrés (p < .05). Concluimos que la muestra de pacientes con COVID-19 mantiene una alta prevalencia de alteraciones mentales y que algunos factores sociodemográficos se asocian con la magnitud de estos trastornos.