In the same storm, but on different boats: The social determination of mental health during COVID-19

Melo, Cynthia de Freitas; Costa, Ícaro Moreira; Pinheiro, Ana Lídia Vasconcelos; Alves, Railda Sabino Fernandes; Seidl, Eliane Maria Fleury

doi:10.1590/1982-0275202441e210128

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Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas)

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Sumário

Research Report - Health Psychology • Estud. psicol. (Campinas) 41 • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202441e210128 copy

In the same storm, but on different boats: The social determination of mental health during COVID-19

Na mesma tempestade, mas em barcos diferentes: a determinação social da saúde mental na COVID-19

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective

The social and health scenario of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 had an impact on the mental health of the population, characterized by strong health inequities. Faced with this problem, this study aimed to analyze the predictor variables of mental health in Brazilians during the pandemic, identifying the most vulnerable groups.

Method

An online survey was carried out, with a non-probabilistic sample of 1.397 Brazilians, who answered a biodemographic and general health questionnaire, analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics.

Results

It was identified that being female, non-heterosexual, unemployed, with low income, and history of mental health comorbidities are predictors of mental health problems. In addition to these, the sample comparisons revealed other groups with greater susceptibility: single and divorced, without religion, with history of COVID-19, maintaining social distancing, and bereaved.

Conclusion

There are groups with greater vulnerability to mental health problems, requiring health policies for prevention and health promotion that are appropriate for different social groups.

Keywords:
Coronavirus infections; Mental health; Social determination of health

Variables	Minimum possible	Midpoint	Maximum possible	Minimum obtained	Maximum obtained	M	SD
General health	1	2.5	4	1.00	4.00	2.30	0.61
Anxiety	1	2.5	4	1.00	4.00	2.55	0.64
Depression	1	2.5	4	1.00	4.00	2.18	0.66

Groups	Variables
	General health	Anxiety	Depression
	M ± SD
Gender
Male	2.19 ± 0.03	2.40 ± 0.03	2.08 ± 0.03
Female	2.33 ± 0.01	2.59 ± 0.02	2.21 ± 0.02
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	2.33 ± 0.01	2.49 ± 0.01	2.23 ± 0.01
Homosexual	2.65 ± 0.04	2.86 ± 0.04	2.58 ± 0.04
Occupation
Unemployed	2.62 ± 0.06	2.73 ± 0.07	2.57 ± 0.07
Self-employed	2.23 ± 0.03	2.51 ± 0.03	2.09 ± 0.03
Employed	2.16 ± 0.02	2.44 ± 0.02	2.02 ± 0.02
Retiree	2.01 ± 0.08	2.25 ± 0.11	1.89 ± 0.08
Family income
Up to 1 minimum salary	2.46 ± 0.61	2.68 ± 0.64	2.35 ± 0.66
From 1 to 3 minimum salaries	2.44 ± 0.63	2.61 ± 0365	2.35 ± 0.68
From 3 to 5 minimum salaries	2.33 ± 0.57	2.57 ± 0.60	2.21 ± 0.62
From 5 to 10 minimum salaries	2.30 ± 0.61	2.56 ± 0.64	2.16 ± 0.66
From 10 to 15 minimum salaries	2.27 ± 0.58	2.58 ± 0.65	2.11 ± 0.62
More than 15 minimum salaries	2.08 ± 0.59	2.34 ± 0.63	1.95 ± 0.63
Marital status
Single	2.41 ± 0.02	2.63 ± 0.02	2.31 ± 0.02
Married/ stable union	2.14 ± 0.02	2.43 ± 0.02	2.00 ± 0.02
Divorced	2.05 ± 0.06	2.36 ± 0.07	1.90 ± 0.07
Widowed	2.35 ± 0.14	2.61 ± 017	2.23 ± 0.017
Religiosity
Does not have a religion	2.45 ± 0.03	2.67 ± 0.03	2.34 ± 0.03
Has a religion	2.22 ± 0.02	2.46 ± 0.02	2.10 ± 0.02
Religious participation
Religiously active	2.34 ± 0.03	2.49 ± 0.01	2.11 ± 0.01
Religiously inactive	2.24 ± 0.01	2.67 ± 0.03	2.34 ± 0.03
Prior mental health comorbidity
With comorbidity	2.47 ± 0.02	2.71 ± 0.02	2.35 ± 0.02
Without comorbidity	2.04 ± 0.02	2.29 ± 0.02	1.91 ± 0.02
History of COVID-19
Has been infected	-	2.63 ± 0.03	-
Has not been infected	-	2.51 ± 0.01	-
Adherence to social distancing
Already isolated	2.34 ± 0.02	2.58 ± 0.02	2.22 ± 0.02
Has been isolated	2.28 ± 0.02	2.52 ± 0.02	2.16 ± 0.02
Has never been isolated	2.13 ± 0.05	2.42 ± 0.06	1.98 ± 0.05
Frontline health professional
Health professional	2.18 ± 0.04	-	2.0 ± 0.04
General population	2.31 ± 0.01	-	2.1 ± 0.01
Loss and bereavement in the pandemic
Bereaved	2.53 ± 0.10	2.7 ± 0.08	2.4 ± 0.12
Did not lose a loved one	2.29 ± 0.01	2.5 ± 0.01	2.1 ± 0.01

Dependent Variable (Model)	Independent Variable	R² (%)	β	p <
Depression	Comorbidity in mental health	8.20	-0.259	0.001
F (6.1390) = 36.786**	Occupation	4.90	-0.194	0.001
R² = 19.60%)	Sexual orientation	4.10	-0.201	0.001
	Income	1.40	-0.118	0.001
	Health professional	0.50	0.069	0.001
	Gender	0.50	-0.075	0.001
Anxiety	Comorbidity in mental health	9.20	-0.277	0.001
F (5.1390) = 30.156^**	Sexual orientation	2.30	-0.156	0.001
R² = 14.20%)	Occupation	1.30	-0.102	0.001
	Gender	0.90	-0.093	0.05
	Income	0.50	-0.069	0.05

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br

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[1] Correspondence to:
C. F. MELO. E-mail: <cf.melo@yahoo.com.br>.