Mental Health among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Comparison

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-03, Vol.18 (5), p.2686
• Main Authors: Ding, Kele, Yang, Jingzhen, Chin, Ming-Kai, Sullivan, Lindsay, Demirhan, Giyasettin, Violant-Holz, Veronica, Uvinha, Ricardo R, Dai, Jianhui, Xu, Xia, Popeska, Biljana, Mladenova, Zornitza, Khan, Waheeda, Kuan, Garry, Balasekaran, Govindasamy, Smith, Gary A, On Behalf Of Global Community Health-Covid-Collaborative Research Team
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Brazil - epidemiology; Bulgaria; China; Communicable Disease Control; Coping; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data analysis; Data collection; Depression - epidemiology; Exposure; Female; Humans; India; Ireland; Likert scale; Malaysia; Male; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Pandemics; Quarantine; Republic of North Macedonia; Resilience; Risk analysis; Risk exposure; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2; Singapore; Social networks; Spain; Teams; Turkey; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052686

Despite the global impact of COVID-19, studies comparing the effects of COVID-19 on population mental health across countries are sparse. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults from 11 countries and to examine their associations with country-level COVID-19 factors and personal COVID-19 exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Mental health (anxiety, depression, resilient coping, hope) and other study data were collected between June-August 2020. Of the 13,263 participants, 62.8% were female and 51.7% were 18-34 years old. Participants living in Brazil had the highest anxiety and depression symptoms while participants living in Singapore had the lowest. Greater personal COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms, but country-level COVID-19 factors were not. Higher levels of hope were associated with reduced anxiety and depression; higher levels of resilient coping were associated with reduced anxiety but not depression. Substantial variations exist in anxiety and depression symptoms across countries during the COVID-19 lockdown, with personal COVID-19 exposure being a significant risk factor. Strategies that mitigate COVID-19 exposure and enhance hope and resilience may reduce anxiety and depression during global emergencies.