Psychological distress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Chile: the role of economic uncertainty

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and lockdown can affect people's psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to estimate the extent to which perceptions and expectations regarding the social, economic and domestic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are associated with psychological distress, and identify some demographic, psychosocial and economic factors associated with increased vulnerability to psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chile. 1078 people participated in a telephone survey between May 30 and June 10, 2020. The sample is representative of the Chilean adult population. Psychological distress was assessed through a questionnaire of anxious and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4). We analyze the data set using ordinary least-squares regression models, first estimating models for the entire sample, and then stratifying the sample into different groups to explore differences by gender and age. 19.2% participants displayed significant psychological distress, with moderate to severe anxiety-depression symptoms being more prevalent in women than in men (23.9% vs 14.09%, chi square 6.89, p < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that being a woman, feeling lonely and isolated, living in the areas hit hardest by the pandemic and lockdown, expecting a lack of income due to having to stop working as a consequence of the pandemic, and having a history of mental health diagnosis are significantly associated with psychological distress (p < 0.05). The results of this study highlight the need to implement psychosocial programs to protect people's psychological well-being and social policies to address economic uncertainty during the current COVID-19 outbreak in Chile.

Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Brazil during COVID-19

“…the prevalence rates in our study in Brazil are higher than many studies in other South American countries such as 47.0% prevalence of depressive symptoms and 54.9% of anxiety symptoms in Argentina[47], 19.2% prevalence of psychological distress in Chile[48], 34.9% prevalence of depressive symptoms[49], and 21.7% of severe anxiety symptoms and 26.1% of severe mental distress in Peru[2].…”

Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Brazil during COVID-19

“…Given that Brazil is the largest country in South America, to better benchmark and interpret our findings, we list the major mental health studies in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic to date to provide more comprehensive evidence on the mental burden among Brazilian adults (see Table 4 ). The table reveals that the prevalence rates in our study in Brazil are higher than many studies in other South American countries such as 47.0% prevalence of depressive symptoms and 54.9% of anxiety symptoms in Argentina [ 46 ], 19.2% prevalence of psychological distress in Chile [ 47 ], 34.9% prevalence of depressive symptoms [ 48 ], and 21.7% of severe anxiety symptoms and 26.1% of severe mental distress in Peru [ 2 ].…”

“Re-placed” - Reconsidering relationships with place and lessons from a pandemic

“…This is particularly accentuated for women who support families with children under 12 years of age, with the home being narrated from the physical and emotional fatigue of caring, and the unequal distribution of tasks according to gender roles. Also in Chile, in relation to domestic expectations in the context of the COVID-19, people think that conflict in their home will increase and that they will face a lack of space in the home (Duarte & Jimenez-Molina, 2020).…”