Substance Use and Psychological Distress in Mexican Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: This observational cross-sectional study examined changes in substance use during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Mexican population and evaluated whether depression or anxiety was associated with these new consumption patterns. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to the general population. Participants were questioned about their demographics, situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and substance consumption patterns. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were used. RESULTS: A total of 866 individuals completed the survey. The mean scores for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were 8.89 ± 6.20 and 3.48 ± 3.22, respectively. The preferred substances were alcohol (19%), tobacco (16.5%), and marijuana (5.6%). Consumption of alcohol (p = 0.042) significantly increased during the pandemic and it was higher in women than in men (p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Substance use patterns were affected by the pandemic, with an increase in the number of users and consumption rate, as well as the reported psychiatric symptoms.

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey Study in Western Mexico.

Social isolation and school closure may predispose adolescents to higher prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. In this cross-sectional observational study, the validated Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was administered to 3112 students aged 14-22 years old. We also collected data on participant gender, age group, school shift (morning or afternoon), school year, family type, whether they or any first-degree relative had been infected with COVID-19, whether any family member had died of COVID-19, and whether either of their parents worked. Mean scores were 8.34 ± 6.33 for depression, 7.75 ± 5.89 for anxiety, and 10.26 ± 5.84 for stress. Female students presented significantly higher scores on all three measures compared with male students. Students who had been infected with COVID-19, who had an infected family member, or who had a family member who died of COVID-19 also presented higher scores on all three measures. Identifying the symptoms and warning signs of depression and anxiety disorders is critical, particularly in vulnerable populations like adolescents.

Prevalence of Dysexecutive Symptoms in High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This is an observational cross-sectional study designed to ascertain the prevalence and severity of dysexecutive symptoms in high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The validated Spanish version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX) was used. A total of 2396 participants aged 14-22 years were included. Our sample yielded a mean DEX scale score of 28.14 ± 17.42. By the DEX classification, 889 (37.1%) students achieved optimal scores, 384 (16%) reported mild dysexecutive symptoms, 316 (13.2%) reported moderate dysexecutive symptoms, and 807 (33.7%) reported strong dysexecutive symptoms. We found a significant difference between those with and those without employed mothers, with the former scoring higher (p = 0.004), the same as those with both parents employed (p = 0.004). Adolescents face emotional susceptibility and changes in their family, social, and educational environment related to isolation, resulting in altered emotional responses and social interaction.

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Junior High School Students in Guadalajara, Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Confinement and a lack of social interaction are associated with depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. We report the results of a cross-sectional survey of 1414 junior high school students. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in Guadalajara, Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mean scores on the validated Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were found to be 6.15 ± 5.6 for depression, 5.8 ± 5.2 for anxiety, and 8.08 ± 5.3 for stress. Female students scored higher in all three conditions (p < 0.001). Students who had relatives infected with COVID-19 showed significantly more anxiety than those who did not (p < 0.004). Although certain demographic groups are at higher risk of manifesting depression, anxiety, and stress, the student population has also been affected by the global impact of the pandemic.

Preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Understanding how Mexicans behave during the pandemic could present a complete picture of the phenomenon in our country and provide better management of it. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the Mexican population's behavior and preventive measures. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which a total of 4,004 participants from the general population responded to the survey. Results: Almost 99% of the participants mentioned knowing the symptoms of COVID-19. Although 77.5% of participants considered that they followed proper social distancing measures, 60% of them mentioned that they knew at least six individuals who did not follow social distancing measures. Furthermore, 96.2% of participants reported using preventive measures at least 50% of the time. Only 51.3% used a certified mask. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic outcomes in Mexico are the result of multiple negative factors, such as high rates of comorbidities, high number of people living together at home, many people breaking social isolation, and most of the population using non-certified preventive measures that may not be effective enough.

Depression, anxiety, and academic performance in COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

Depression and anxiety are common after months of social isolation, and they can have a negative impact on anyone's quality of life if they are not treated promptly and appropriately. The aim of this study was to determine if the change to online modality courses and the presence of depression or anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a difference in the college student's academic achievement. This study was a cross-sectional survey in which we used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Also, we examined the students' perceptions of their academic performance using the Academic Self-Concept Scale (ASCS). A total of 610 students responded to the survey. The average score on the Academic Self-Concept Scale was 2.76 ± 0.35, the students presented a risk of 61.5% for possible depressive disorder and 52.1% for possible generalized anxiety disorder. The intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms had a significant effect on Academic Self-Concept Scale scores (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct effect on students' mental health and academic performance.