Factors Associated With Symptoms of Depression Among Older Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a cross-sectional study developed in all regions of Brazil, using an electronic form among older adults aged 60 or over. Data were collected from April 17 to May 15, 2020. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were used. For comparison of means, Student’s t-test and analysis of variance were applied, considering p≤0.05. For association of factors, chi-square was adopted with bivariate analyzes and logistic regression. Results: nine hundred (100.0%) older adults participated in the study. The general score for symptoms of depression was 3.8 (SD=4.4), 818 (91.9%) had no or mild depressive symptoms. Women (p <0.01) have more symptoms than men. The income variable is a predictor of depressive symptoms (OR=0.56; CI: 0.34-0.91; p=0.020). Conclusion: the main factors associated with symptoms of depression were sex, income, education and occupations that expose them to COVID-19 had the highest depression scores.

Sintomas depressivos e fatores associados à pessoa idosa durante a pandemia da covid-19 na cidade de São Paulo-SP

“…The data showed a greater number of women, with a partner and higher education. Similar results were identified in national 16 and international 17,18 research. In addition, it was identified that 39.7% of the participants had depressive symptoms, similar results were found in a Chinese study (30.8%) 16 in Bangladesh 17 .…”

“…In relation to marital status, older people with partners had a lower score of depressive symptoms. Similar results were identified in a population-based study carried out in southern Brazil, in which the factors associated with the occurrence of depression among older people were being female, being separated and being widowed during the pandemic 16 . However, this association, before the pandemic, was already a concern, as identified in the study carried out with 388 older people in Mato Grosso 19 .…”

Depressive symptoms and associated factors in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of São Paulo-SP

“…Os dados demostraram maior número de mulheres, com companheiro e estudo superior. Resultados similares foram identificados em pesquisas nacionais 16 e internacionais 17,18 . Ademais, se identificou que 39,7% dos participantes apresentavam sintomas depressivos, similares resultados foram encontrados em estudo (30,8%) 16 e em Bangladesh (40,1%) 17 .…”

“…Em relação ao estado civil, os idosos com companheiros apresentaram menor escore de sintomas depressivos. Resultados similares foram identificados no estudo de base populacional realizado no Sul do Brasil, em que os fatores associados à ocorrência de depressão entre os idosos foram ser do sexo feminino, ser separados e viúvos durante a pandemia 16 . Contudo, essa associação, antes da pandemia, já era uma preocupação, como identificado no estudo realizado com 388 idosos em Mato Grosso 19 .…”

Elderly people's knowledge and preventive practices about COVID-19

“…Corroborando os autores, um estudo identificou que os principais fatores associados aos sintomas de depressão entre pessoas idosas durante a pandemia da COVID-19 foram o sexo feminino, a baixa condição socioeconômica e a baixa escolaridade. Além disso, pessoas idosas que possuíam ocupações que os expunham diretamente à COVID-19 apresentaram maiores escores de depressão (18) .…”