Abstract

Previous research has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing, and lockdown can affect people's psychological well-being. The aims of this study were (1) to estimate the extent to which perceptions and expectations regarding the social, economic, and domestic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are associated with psychological distress and (2) to identify some demographic, psychosocial, and economic factors associated with increased vulnerability to psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chile. 1078 people participated in a telephone survey between May 30 and June 10, 2020. The sample is representative of the Chilean adult population. Psychological distress was assessed through a questionnaire of anxious and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4). We analyzed the data set using ordinary least-squares regression models, first estimating models for the entire sample, and then stratifying the sample into different groups to explore differences by gender and age. 19.2% of participants displayed significant psychological distress (PHQ-4 ≥ 6), with moderate to severe anxiety-depression symptoms being more prevalent in women than in men (23.9% vs 14.1%, χ2 16.78, p<0.001). The results of this study suggest that being a woman, feeling lonely and isolated, living in the areas hit hardest by the pandemic and lockdown, expecting a lack of income due to having to stop working as a consequence of the pandemic, and having a history of diagnosed mental disorders are significantly associated with psychological distress (p<0.05). The results of this study highlight the need to implement psychosocial programs to guard people's psychological well-being and social policies to address economic uncertainty during the current COVID-19 outbreak in Chile.

Highlights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has produced a sudden change in people’s life, which could result in tensions at the personal, family, and community levels

  • We evaluated a history of mental disorder at some point in the lifespan (“At some point in your life, have you been diagnosed with an illness such as depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or another mental health problem?” [0 = No, 1 = Yes]) and mental health treatment during the past 12 months (“During the last 12 months, have you been in treatment for any mental health problems?” [0 = No, 1 = Yes])

  • The results show a statistically significant difference by sex, with moderate to severe anxiety-depression symptoms being more prevalent in women than in men (23.9% vs 14.09%, p < 0.001)

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Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced a sudden change in people’s life, which could result in tensions at the personal, family, and community levels. Psychological distress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Chile “Millennium Nucleus in Social Development (DESOC), NCS17_015”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

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