Mental health and other factors associated with the perception of the improvement of the environment after the first months of the pandemic in Latin America

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the restrictions of mobility during the first months of the pandemic, an improvement in the environment was observed, but this has not been estimated from the perspective of mental health. Aim: To determine whether mental health and other factors were associated with the perception of the improvement of the environment after the first months of the pandemic in Latin America. Methodology: Analytical and multicenter cross-sectional study. Four questions were asked about their perception of change in the environment after a quarter of the pandemic, Alpha of Cronbach: 0,96). Results: Descriptive and analytical statistics were obtained. In the multivariate analysis, an association of a greater perception of environmental change was found according to having moderate or severe stress (RPa: 1,16; IC95%: 1,05-1,28; valor p=0,003) and live in Bolivia (RPa: 1,24; IC95%: 1,10-1,40; valor p<0,001); In contrast, there was less perception of change among men. (RPa: 0,84; IC95%: 0,78-0,90; valor p<0,001), among the youngest (RPa: 0,995; IC95%: 0,992-0,998; valor p=0,003), among those living in Mexico (RPa: 0,80; IC95%: 0,69-0,93; valor p=0,003) and other Latin American countries (RPa: 0,64; IC95%: 0,43-0,98; valor p=0,039), adjusted for level of education and having anxiety. Discussion: The environment changed due to the lack of human activity, but this perception was also associated with mental health status. Conclusion: A greater perception of environmental change was associated with having moderate/severe stress and living in Bolivia; there was less perception of change among men, in younger men, depending on living in Mexico or in other Latin American countries.