Brazilian's frequency of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms in the COVID-19 pandemic/ Frequência de sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e estresse em brasileiros na pandemia COVID-19

Barbosa, Leopoldo Nelson Fernandes; Melo, Monica Cristina Batista de; Cunha, Maria do Carmo Vieira da; Albuquerque, Eliane Nóbrega; Costa, Juliana Monteiro; Silva, Eduardo Falcão Felisberto da

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the frequency of anxiety, stress and depression in Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted with Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection was performed via an online electronic form containing self-reported sociodemographic and mental health variables using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) using the snow-ball sampling technique. For the whole study, a significance level of 0.05 was considered, except for the application of the stepwise method, which considered a level of 0.2. Results: 1,775 people responded the survey, mostly women (78.07%), white (58.13%), single (45.78%), currently working (63.74%). 32.03% received psychotherapy or some type of emotional support before the pandemic, 19.03% had some psychiatric diagnosis and 8.49% started some support after the beginning of the pandemic. The mean scores investigated by the DASS-21 scale were 5.53869 for depression, 4.467334 for anxiety and 8.221202 for stress. Conclusions: during the COVID-19 pandemic, sociodemographic and mental health characteristics were mapped and in Brazilians and the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress were identified mainly in women, single people, who did not currently work and already had some previous mental health symptom.