Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine the factors associated with quality of life and depressive symptoms in Peruvian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsMulticentre study in 1,634 students recruited by convenience sampling. The quality of life (QoL) was assessed with the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions at three levels (EQ-5D-3L) and depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). To assess factors associated with QoL and depressive symptoms, linear regressions and fitted regressions were used, with robust coefficients of variance information (β).ResultsA 345 (21.1%) reported problems in performing daily activities, 544 (33.3%) reported pain and discomfort, 772 (47.2%) were moderately/very anxious or depressed. Furthermore, 207 (12.7%) had moderate-severe and severe depressive symptoms. Men reported better QoL than women (β: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.4; p = 0.004) and fewer depressive symptoms (β: −0.7; 95% CI: −1.3, −0.2; p = 0.011). Ayacucho’s residents had more depressive symptoms than Ancash’s residents (β: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 1.5; p = 0.022) and Piura’s residents had fewer depressive symptoms than Ancash’s residents (β: −1.195% CI: −1.8, −0.3, p = 0.005). Students who left home during quarantine reported more depressive symptoms (β: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.2, 1.2, p = 0.006).ConclusionProblems performing daily activities, pain and discomfort, as well as mild to severe depressive symptoms were found in more than three-quarters of the sample. Authorities could consider depression care to improve quality of life in regions where high rates of infection occurred during the pandemic.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a public health problem that has affected the entire world population
The COVID-19 pandemic has hurt the quality of life of these populations
In Latin America, there is little literature on assessing the association between quality of life and depressive symptoms in times of pandemic (COVID-19), with only one study in a Brazilian population reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (41.9%) and anxiety symptoms (29.0%), which were associated with poorer quality of life (Vitorino et al, 2021)
Summary
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a public health problem that has affected the entire world population. Quality of Life and Depression million people worldwide and caused more than four million deaths (World Health Organization, 2020b). A recent review study in China and Singapore reported the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the population in ranges of 6–50% and 14–48%, respectively (Pappa et al, 2020). Factors such as low income, being a woman and being unemployed significantly impair mental health in times of a COVID-19 pandemic (Mejia et al, 2020; ParradoGonzález, 2020). In Latin America, there is little literature on assessing the association between quality of life and depressive symptoms in times of pandemic (COVID-19), with only one study in a Brazilian population reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (41.9%) and anxiety symptoms (29.0%), which were associated with poorer quality of life (Vitorino et al, 2021)
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