One Virus, Four Continents, Eight Countries: An Interdisciplinary and International Study on the Psychosocial Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brings several features that increase the sense of fear, not to mention confusion, quarantine, financial losses, etc., which may lead to adverse psychosocial outcomes. The influence of such stressors takes place within a broader sociocultural context that needs to be considered.Objective: To examine how the psychological response to the pandemic varies across countries and identify which risk/protective factors contribute to this response.Methods: An online survey was conducted from May 29-June 12, 2020, among a multinational sample of 8,806 adults from eight countries/regions (Canada, United States, England, Switzerland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Philippines, New Zealand). Probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression episode (MDE) were assessed. The independent role of a wide range of potential factors was examined using multilevel logistic regression.Findings: Probable GAD and MDE were indicated by 21.0% and 25.5% of the respondents, respectively, with an important variation according to countries/regions (GAD 12.2%-31.0%; MDE 16.7%-32.9%). When considered together, 30.2% of the participants indicated probable GAD or MDE. Several factors were positively associated with a probable GAD or MDE, including (in descending order of importance) weak sense of coherence (SOC), lower age, false beliefs, isolation, threat perceived for oneself/family, mistrust in authorities, stigma, threat perceived for country/world, financial losses, being a female, and having high level of information about COVID-19. Having a weak SOC yielded the highest adjusted odds ratio for probable GAD or MDE (3.23; 95% CI 2.76-3.78).Interpretation: This pandemic is having an impact on psychological health. In some places and under certain circumstances, however, people seem to be better protected psychologically. This is a unique opportunity to evaluate the psychosocial impacts across various sociocultural backgrounds, providing important lessons that could inform all phases of disaster risk management.Funding: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.Declaration of Interests All authors declare no competing interest.Ethics Approval Statement This study takes place within a broader research project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. It was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board of the CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS (HEC ref 2020-3674).