Psychological distress during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador: Cross-sectional study

Workers' Psychological Distress During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of workers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among Brazilian workers during the early months of the pandemic and explore its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire administered to 2903 Brazilian workers, including 1752 non-healthcare workers (NHCWs) and 1151 healthcare workers (HCWs), between April and May 2020. Snowball sampling was employed for participant recruitment, and the research questionnaire was adapted for use with the Brazilian population through a process of translation and cultural adaptation, based on an instrument initially created and validated for use in Spain. Differences between NHCWs and HCWs were tested using the chi-square or Fisher's Exact test and Mann-Whitney test followed by effect size measurement. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between psychological distress and the predictor variables. Psychological distress was observed in 72.6% (95% CI 70.1-74.2%) of the participants, with no significant difference observed between NHCWs and HCWs. Although 32 variables showed statistically significant differences between NHCWs and HCWs, only 7 demonstrated clinical-epidemiological relevance, primarily related to occupational factors. Work-related stress was positively associated with psychological distress, but this relationship diminished in the absence of family members infected with COVID-19. Conversely, a higher sense of coherence was protective against psychological distress, although this effect weakened in the absence of family members infected with COVID-19. The study highlights the high prevalence of psychological distress among Brazilian workers during the pandemic's early months. Work stress played a significant role, while sense of coherence appeared to mitigate mental health challenges. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for workers facing both professional and family-related stressors during crises.

Psychological distress among Brazilian workers during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive study

Background

COVID-19 pandemic imposed drastic and abrupt changes to working environment and organization and that might have caused additional negative effects on mental health. Thus, this study aimed to quantify and assess the severity of psychological distress experienced by Brazilian essential and nonessential workers during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This descriptive study included 2,903 participants who answered an online questionnaire between April and May 2020. The research questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted to the Brazilian population from a questionnaire developed and validated for the Spanish population. Variables were analyzed using simple and cumulative percentage distributions and measures of central tendency and dispersion. The Wilson score interval was used to calculate confidence interval (CI) for the main outcome, psychological distress.

Results

It was observed a high prevalence (72.6%) of psychological distress among the study's participants. They also presented a median risk perception score of 60 (out of a maximum of 90), and their greatest concern was transmitting the virus to family members, close contacts or patients. Furthermore, it was found a lower sense of coherence and work engagement among the participants than those observed in previous studies conducted in other countries.

Conclusion

Almost three quarters of the study's participants were classified as presenting psychological distress. Thus, it is imperative to provide mental health remotely delivered interventions to workers during public health events that require prolonged social distancing measures.

Risk perception of healthcare workers in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Objectives

To validate the items of the Emotional Impact Questionnaire coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related to risk perception, estimating its degree, among healthcare workers in the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, identifying possible associated factors.Methods: cross-sectional study in 1872 healthcare workers of Brazil. The population was characterized by sociodemographic and occupational information, knowledge about COVID-19, quality of information received, risk perception and preventive measures about the disease, and sense of coherence.

Results

Being divorced, having a chronic disease, spending more than 1 h per day getting informed about COVID-19, and always or almost always wearing a mask regardless of symptoms, as well as self-perception of health were associated with high-risk perception. An inverse association was found between risk perception, sense of coherence and not knowing if one has had occasional contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Conclusion

Risk perception is influenced by emotions, experiences, and knowledge. Sense of coherence and resilience have a role in reducing risk perception. Understanding risk perception is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar scenarios.

Psychosocial dysfunction of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Although the risk of morbidity and mortality of children and adolescents was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that their mental health was strongly impacted. The goal of this study is to document psychological dysfunction among children and adolescents who underwent confinement due to COVID-19 in Ecuador.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, internet-based questionnaire.

SETTING

Ecuador.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1077 caregivers of children and adolescents (4-16 years old).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Caregivers responded to Pediatric Symptom Checklist-35 to assess psychosocial dysfunction.

RESULTS

The prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was 20.8%, with internalising symptoms being the most common (30.7%). The prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was higher in children who had a poor family relationship during confinement (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.23; 95% CI 1.22 to 4.07), children who never helped with housework (PR 2.63; 95% CI 1.13 to 6.14) and those whose caregivers were worried about children's need for emotional therapy (PR 2.86; 95% CI 1.97 to 4.15). Never playing video games (PR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.69) or playing video games infrequently (PR 0.39; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.79) was a protective factor for the psychosocial problems of children and adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that children and adolescents have experienced a deterioration of mental health due to the pandemic. Family factors played an important role in the mental health of children during the lockdown. When a public crisis occurs, supportive mental health policies should be developed and implemented to promote children's psychological welfare.

Work Engagement, Work Environment, and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ecuador

Work environments can interfere with the mental health of workers as generators or reducers of psychological distress. Work engagement is a concept related to quality of life and efficiency at work. The aim of this study was to find the relationship between work environment factors and work engagement among the Ecuadorian general population during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess their levels of psychological distress. For this purpose, a cross-sectional, descriptive study using a set of questionnaires was performed. Sociodemographic and work environment data, work engagement (UWES-9 scale) scores, and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) scores were collected. The variables that predicted 70.2% of psychological distress during the first phase of the pandemic were being female, with a low level of vigour (work engagement dimension), being stressed at work, and low job satisfaction. The sample showed an intermediate level of engagement in both the global assessment and the three dimensions, being higher in those without psychological distress. With effective actions on work environment factors, mental health effects may be efficiently prevented, and work engagement may be benefited. Companies can reduce workers’ psychological distress by providing safe and effective means to prevent the risk of contagion; reducing the levels of work conflict, work stress, or workload; and supporting their employees with psychological measures in order to maintain ideal working conditions.

How not to manage a pandemic, and how to recover from it: Lessons from Ecuador

Since the initial outbreak in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than four million deaths worldwide. Ecuador initially experienced one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world. The pandemic quickly overwhelmed health care systems resulting in excess deaths of 37 000 from March to October, 2020. The public health measures taken to stop the spread of the virus had a devastating impact on the economy. There was a sharp contraction (7.8%) in Ecuador’s GDP in 2020. Furthermore, income poverty and inequality increased dramatically. The lasting effects of the pandemic will be harder to overcome. This article recounts and analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, to draw lessons from this complex experience, and from the benefit of limited but important successes. We also aim to provide suggestions for best practices moving forward.