Changes in Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Stress, and Food Security Among Study Participants With Metabolic Syndrome During a COVID-19-Mandated Research Pause.

INTRODUCTION: We explored how depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and food security of people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was administered from October 2019 through March 2020, to participants in a 2-year lifestyle intervention trial to reverse MetS; the survey was repeated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes were a change in depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and food security as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Perceived Stress Scale, and US Department of Agriculture's 10-item Adult Food Security Module. We analyzed changes in outcomes with measures of association, paired t tests, repeated measures, and independent t tests. RESULTS: Survey respondents (N = 132) were mostly female (67%), White (70%), and middle-aged, with a median income of $86,000. Frequency of depressive symptoms increased from baseline to follow-up and the increase was related to lower mean (SD) baseline vitality (44.4 [20.7] vs 60.3 [18.9]; P = .01) and mental health decline (71.0 [14.3] vs 82.0 [10.4]; P = .002). Mean (SD) perceived stress was significantly higher at baseline than follow-up (18.5 [6.4] vs 14.9 [7.2]; P < .001). Food security increased from 83% at baseline to 90% at follow-up (P < .001). Movement to or continued food insecurity (n = 13) tended to be associated with a racial or ethnic minority group (P = .05). CONCLUSION: A sample at high risk for COVID-19 did not experience increased stress or food insecurity, but demonstrated increased depressive symptoms after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some baseline susceptibility.

O6 Depressive Symptoms, not Food Insecurity, Increased During COVID-19 Pandemic in At-Risk Group with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, thus pandemic-driven policies may more strongly influence the emotional responses of those with MetS. Examine emotional, mental health, and food security impact of COVID-19 pandemic on persons with metabolic syndrome Baseline, pre-pandemic biomedical measures and online survey of persons enrolled, with minimal or no participation in a 2-year lifestyle intervention trial to reverse metabolic syndrome;repeated online survey during COVID-19 pandemic. Change in depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score), perceived stress (Cohen Stress Scale), food security (USDA 10-item Food Security Screener);baseline eating competence (EC;Satter Eating Competence Inventory), health (SF-36), socioeconomic and demographic items. Change in normal and transformed variables was analyzed with paired t -tests, multiple regression, repeated measures ANOVA. Participants (n = 132;MetS diagnosis) were mostly female (67%), White (70%), middle-aged (mean 57.0 ± 11.0 y) well-educated (62% college/post-graduate), with a median income of $86,000. Perceived stress was significantly higher at baseline than follow-up (18.5 ± 6.4 vs 14.9 ± 7.2;P < 0.001) even when controlling for confounders (eg, EC, vitality). Food security increased from 83% at baseline to 90% at follow-up (P < 0.001). Migration to or continued food insecurity (n = 13) tended to be associated with being non-White (P = 0.05). Depressive symptoms increased from baseline (2.1 ± 2.3 vs 3.5 ± 3.4;P < 0.001) even when controlling for EC or gender. Depression, which was a study exclusion criterion, was noted at follow-up (n = 10). Movement to depression was not associated with socioeconomic demographics, but was related to lower baseline vitality (44.4 ± 20.7 vs 60.3 ± 18.9;P = 0.012), mental health (71.0 ± 14.3 vs 82 ± 10.4;P = 0.002) and higher follow-up perceived stress (22.6 ± 7.7 vs 14.2 ± 6.8;P < 0.001). A high-risk sample for COVID-19, which was highly educated, did not experience increased stress or food insecurity, but demonstrated increased depressive symptoms after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, with some baseline susceptibility noted. William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)