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

Author

Listed:
  • Kele Ding

    (School of Health Science, College of Education Health & Human Service, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
    Contributed equally as first authors.)

  • Jingzhen Yang

    (Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
    Contributed equally as first authors.)

  • Ming-Kai Chin

    (Foundation for Global Community Health, Las Vegas, NV 89012, USA)

  • Lindsay Sullivan

    (Discipline of Children’s Studies, School of Education, National University of Ireland, H91 Galway, Ireland)

  • Giyasettin Demirhan

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport Teaching, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06420, Turkey)

  • Veronica Violant-Holz

    (Department of Didactics and Educative Organization, University of Barcelona, 08015 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ricardo R. Uvinha

    (School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01310, Brazil)

  • Jianhui Dai

    (School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China)

  • Xia Xu

    (Hubei Key Laboratory of Sport Training and Monitoring, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430021, China)

  • Biljana Popeska

    (Faculty of Educational Sciences, Goce Delcev University, 2000 Stip, North Macedonia)

  • Zornitza Mladenova

    (Association of Touristic Animators, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria)

  • Waheeda Khan

    (Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram 122505, India)

  • Garry Kuan

    (Exercise and Sports Science, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Govindasamy Balasekaran

    (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 178957, Singapore)

  • Gary A. Smith

    (Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA)

  • on behalf of Global Community Health–COVID-19 Collaborative Research Team

    (Members listed at end of report.)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kele Ding & Jingzhen Yang & Ming-Kai Chin & Lindsay Sullivan & Giyasettin Demirhan & Veronica Violant-Holz & Ricardo R. Uvinha & Jianhui Dai & Xia Xu & Biljana Popeska & Zornitza Mladenova & Waheeda K, 2021. "Mental Health among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2686-:d:512262
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kele Ding & Jingzhen Yang & Ming-Kai Chin & Lindsay Sullivan & J. Larry Durstine & Verónica Violant-Holz & Giyasettin Demirhan & Nara R.C. Oliveira & Biljana Popeska & Garry Kuan & Waheeda Khan & Jian, 2021. "Physical Activity among Adults Residing in 11 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Yuzi Zhang & Kathryn M. Janda & Nalini Ranjit & Deborah Salvo & Aida Nielsen & Alexandra van den Berg, 2022. "Change in Depression and Its Determinants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Examination among Racially/Ethnically Diverse US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Rute F. Meneses & Carla Barros & Helder Sousa & Ana Isabel Sani, 2024. "Risks of Ecosystems’ Degradation: Portuguese Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health, Hope and Resilient Coping," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Jing Mun Yew & Yee Cheng Kueh & Bachok Norsa’adah & Foo Weng Leong & Heen Yeong Tang & Garry Kuan, 2022. "A Path Model of the Relationship between Mood, Exercise Behavior, Coping, and Mental Health among Malaysians during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan & Olanrewaju Ibigbami & Maha El Tantawi & Brandon Brown & Nourhan M. Aly & Oliver Ezechi & Giuliana Florencia Abeldaño & Eshrat Ara & Martin Amogre Ayanore & Passent Ellaka, 2021. "Factors Associated with Financial Security, Food Security and Quality of Daily Lives of Residents in Nigeria during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Florin-Teodor Boldeanu & Adriana Veronica Litră & José Antonio Clemente-Almendros & Ileana Tache, 2022. "The link Between Stock Exchange Sectors and Indices: Implications During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, December.

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