Predictors of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms from the COVID-19 outbreak

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented global crisis, with dramatic changes in people's living conditions and mental health. The aim of this study is to establish predictors of depression, anxiety and stress in people affected by the epidemiological outbreak of COVID-19. Participants comprised 2,376 individuals over 18 years old, 79.6% women, who answered the Scale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21), in addition to scales to assess subjective severity, the search for social support and data related to COVID-19. It was observed that their main predictors were younger age, sleep problems, feeling lonely, not talking about their fears and subjective severity. The conclusion is that there are population groups at risk of experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, which evidences the need to develop prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the psychological impact of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Spanish) La pandemia de COVID-19 ha provocado una crisis mundial sin precedentes, con cambios drasticos en las condiciones de vida y en la salud mental de las personas. El proposito de este estudio es establecer predictores de depresion, ansiedad y estres en personas afectadas por el brote epidemiologico de COVID-19. Participaron 2,376 personas mayores de 18 anos, un 79.6% mujeres, quienes contestaron la Escala de Depresion, Ansiedad y Estres (DASS-21), ademas de escalas para evaluar la severidad subjetiva, la busqueda de apoyo social y datos relacionados con COVID-19. Se observo que sus principales predictores fueron tener menor edad, problemas para dormir, sentirse solo, no hablar de sus temores y la severidad subjetiva. Se concluye que existen grupos de poblacion en riesgo de experimentar niveles mas altos de depresion, ansiedad y estres, lo que evidencia la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias de prevencion e intervencion para reducir el impacto psicologico de la pandemia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)