| Sumario: |
Rationale: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the influence of coronavirus awareness, psychological
stress responses, and sociodemographic variables on mental health indicators (somatization, depression, and
anxiety) in residents of Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Spain.
Methods: The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional approach. Data was collected online using the Brief
Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18); the Coronavirus Awareness Scale-6 (CAS-6) and a questionnaire that included
psychological and sociodemographic questions. The total sample size consisted of 1559 respondents from
Honduras (34%), Chile (29%), Costa Rica (17%), Mexico (11%), and Spain (9%).
Results: The most common stress domains correspond to family (22.97%), financial (22.53%), academic
(16.47%), leisure time constraints (14.23%), health (12.48%), peer group (7.63%), and religious concerns
(3.69%). These domains are significantly associated with the respondent’s country, sex, employment status, and
being or not a health worker. Respondents who reported confinement stress also reported higher scores in
anxiety, depression, and somatization. The Global Severity Index was significantly predicted by confinement
stress, health, academic, and leisure time-related stress, sex, age, being a health worker, COVID-19 Personal
Concern, and Perceived Seriousness. Non-significant predictors were employment status, the number of people at
home, presence of older adults and children at home, financial, peer group, family, and religious concerns; the
regression model had an R2 of 0.26. Similar analyses were conducted for somatization, depression, and anxiety
subscales.
Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse effects on the mental health of the general population,
particularly regarding anxiety, depression, and somatization. Specific populations, such as women and health care workers, are at particular risk of suffering a deterioration in mental wellbeing. The implications of the study
for public policy are discussed.
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