Mental Health among Adults during the Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown

A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Comparison

Bibliographic Data

ID15504687
AuthorsKai Ding (0000-0002-8632-2937, Kent State University), Jingzhen Yang (0000-0003-4019-0999, Nationwide Children's Hospital, corresponding author), Ming-Kai Chin (0000-0002-4853-2116, Community Foundation, corresponding author), Lindsay Sullivan (0000-0001-8079-0388, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway), Gıyasettin Demirhan (0000-0002-5370-2036, Hacettepe University), Verónica Violant (0000-0003-2464-6845, Universitat de Barcelona), Ricardo Ricci Uvinha (0000-0003-2936-9453, Universidade de São Paulo), Jianhui Dai (0000-0001-6296-2510, Soochow University), Xia Xu (0000-0002-3308-3047, Wuhan Sports University), Biljana Popeska (0000-0002-3063-8449, Goce Delcev University), Zornitza Mladenova (Association of Touristic Animators, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria), Waheeda Khan (Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University), Garry Kuan (0000-0003-1103-3871, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Govindasamy Balasekaran (0000-0001-6101-2695, Nanyang Technological University), Gary A Smith (0000-0001-5838-8982, Nationwide Children's Hospital), on behalf of Global Community Health–COVID-19 Collaborative Research Team
Year2021
Volume18
Issue5
Pages2686-2686
Publication date2021-03-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18052686
PMID33800008
OpenAlexW3134636820
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited29

Despite the global impact of COVID-19, studies comparing the effects of COVID-19 on population mental health across countries are sparse. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults from 11 countries and to examine their associations with country-level COVID-19 factors and personal COVID-19 exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Mental health (anxiety, depression, resilient coping, hope) and other study data were collected between June-August 2020. Of the 13,263 participants, 62.8% were female and 51.7% were 18-34 years old. Participants living in Brazil had the highest anxiety and depression symptoms while participants living in Singapore had the lowest. Greater personal COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms, but country-level COVID-19 factors were not. Higher levels of hope were associated with reduced anxiety and depression; higher levels of resilient coping were associated with reduced anxiety but not depression. Substantial variations exist in anxiety and depression symptoms across countries during the COVID-19 lockdown, with personal COVID-19 exposure being a significant risk factor. Strategies that mitigate COVID-19 exposure and enhance hope and resilience may reduce anxiety and depression during global emergencies

Anxiety · Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Depression (economics · Disease · Environmental health · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Mental health · Pandemic · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological resilience · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · Psychology