Changes in depression symptoms in Mexican women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: While COVID-19 infection affects health directly, the pandemic response has widespread implications as physical and social environments were radically changed by social distancing and stay at home measures. Mental health effects are important effects to track. We aimed to examine changes in depression and stress levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in women from a longitudinal cohort based in Mexico City. METHODS: We studied 471 women enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) study, who completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) prior to the pandemic (2018-2019) and during the pandemic (May-November 2020). Change in EDS score between the two time periods was calculated. New onset depression was defined an EDS score 12 only in the pandemic period. Psychosocial stress for both time periods was ascertained through endorsement of negative life events across 11 domains using the CRISYS questionnaire. Associations between stress at both time periods and depression were analyzed in generalized linear models adjusting for age, socio-economic status and family social support. RESULTS:Higher stress (median) during the pandemic, but not prior to it, was associated with an increase in depression score (β: 2.22; 95%CI [1.15, 3.28]), and higher odds of new onset depression (OR: 1.25; 95% CI [1.01, 1.55]). Higher stress during the pandemic in particular domains, including personal relationships (β: 1.82 [95%CI: 0. 84, 2.80], home (β:1.41; [95%CI 0.22, 2.60]) and financial (β: 1.72; [95%CI: 0.71, 2.73]) were associated with an increase in depression score. We did not find significant differences in the distribution of depression or stress scores pre and during pandemic. CONCLUSIONS:High levels of stress during the pandemic were associated with increases in depression scores and new onset depression. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of stress associated with the pandemic on mental and overall health. KEYWORDS: mental health outcomes, female, covid-19, epidemiology