Title:Depression Symptoms Amongst Older Brazilian and Chinese Women
Submitted to Different Social Distancing Measures Rigidness During
COVID-19 Outbreak
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Author(s): Lucimere Bohn*, Clarice Martins Lucena, André Pereira dos Santos, Sitong Chen and Pedro Pugliesi Abdalla
Affiliation:
- Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto (FADEUP)
and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto 4200-450, Portugal
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport, Lusofona University, Porto 4000-098, Portugal
Keywords:
Mental health, depression, COVID-19, social distancing measures, geriatric, rigidness.
Abstract:
Background: It is plausible that depression symptoms and disrupting sleep quality were
differently affected according to the rigidity of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Objective: To describe and compare depression symptoms and sleep quality amongst older Brazilian
and Chinese women who were submitted to different social distancing measures (less rigid
(Brazil) versus more rigid (China)).
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study assessed urban older women who underwent
home confinement with less (Brazil; n=1015) or more (China; n=644) rigidity. Socio-demographic
correlates, general health information, depression symptoms [Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-
15)], and sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)] were assessed through interviews.
Results: 1659 older women (66.74 ± 5.48 years old; 38.8% Chinese; 61.2% Brazilian) were included
for analysis. 22% of Brazilians and 19.6% of Chinese women presented depression symptoms.
The frequency of bad sleepers was 56.4% and 37.7% amongst Brazilian and Chinese older
women, respectively. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, general health status, and
PSQI global score, Chinese women had a significantly higher score of depression symptoms (3.88
± 0.13) compared to the Brazilians (3.26 ± 0.10; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The frequency of poor sleep quality was very high regardless of the country. After adjusting
for confounders and sleep quality, older Chinese women had a significantly superior score
of depression symptoms exacerbating psychological distress by confinement rigidness.
