Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms experienced by the ecuadorian general population during the pandemic for covid-19

Abstract

Objective: To describe the mental health state of ecuadorian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic from march to august 2020. Data from a larger study involving several spanish-speaking countries were analyzed. This research was non-experimental, quantitative, and cross-sectional, conducted through an anonymous online survey used as the collection tool. Results: A total of 766 people participated, 64.23% were women and the mean age was 32.35 (SD = 12.54). Around 8% of the participants declared having presented a diagnosis of COVID-19, and 12.9% having experienced associated symptoms. Most participants (77.4%) indicated not having had mental health problems in the past, and 87.6% did not have these problems during the pandemic. However, 41% acknowledged having experienced greater psychological distress. Participants presented low levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Women and young adults were the most affected groups by the assessed symptoms. Conclusions: In pandemic and confinement situations, providing mental health care services for the general population is essential, especially for women and young adults.