Mental health and associated factors in young adults from two peripheral neighborhoods of Barcelona after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dúnia Bel Verge, Bruno Cabrera Pérez, Margarita Vidal Llaudes, Irene Hernandez Julian, Mireia Lecina Nicolas, Judit Boncompte Torres, Carmen Rodriguez Pozo, Francesc Orfila Pernas

Keywords: Mental health, Covid-19, young adult, anxiety disorder, depression

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the mental health of the population. It is unknown if there are differences between people with mental health problems before the pandemic and newly diagnosed.

Research questions:

To evaluate the prevalence and persistence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults diagnosed before or during the COVID-19 pandemic period. To identify possible factors associated with their development.

Method:

A cross-sectional observational study in adults from 18 to 39 years old who were visited in Primary Care Centers of two neighborhoods of Barcelona. A random selection of individuals was classified into three groups: diagnosed with anxiety-depression in the pre-pandemic period (group A), diagnosed during (group B), and not diagnosed (group C). The participants responded to questionnaires about sociodemographic data, depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), resilience (BRS), social support (OSLO3), and exercise (CBPAAT). A descriptive and bivariate analysis was carried out with comparison of proportions and averages, and calculation of prevalences.

Results:

96 participants were interviewed (group A: n=32, B: n=31, C: n=33). According to the PHQ9 test, 71.9% presented depressive symptoms, with a higher score in groups A and B compared to C (11.2 points vs 6.1; p<0.001). According to the GAD-7 test, 76% had symptoms of anxiety, with a higher score in groups A-B, compared to C (11.0 points vs 6.1; p<0.001). The prevalence of moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety-depression, according to combined GAD7 and PHQ9 results, is higher in group A than in B and C (78.1% vs 61.3% vs 39.4%; p<0.001). Higher (worse) scores in PHQ9 and GAD7 were associated with female gender, lower resilience, and less social support (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of anxiety-depression symptoms is higher in the control group compared with recorded prevalence. The persistence of symptoms is higher in those already diagnosed before the pandemic. Social support and resilience act as protective factors.

Points for discussion:

Possible underdiagnosis of anxiety-depression in clinical health records.

Faster recovery of anxiety-depression symptoms on those diagnosed during the pandemic period which suggest a reactive effect.

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