Factors associated with symptoms of depression among the brazilian population in the context of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.16901Keywords:
Depression, Mental Health, COVID-19Abstract
Objective: To identify the factors associated with symptoms of depression among the Brazilian population in the context of the pandemic. Method: This is an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted with the Brazilian population between April and May of 2020 and 2021, the first period at the beginning of the pandemic and the second period after an increase in the number of cases of the disease. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for data collection. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the mean scores. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess the association of factors. Results: 25,132 (100%) Brazilians participated. The score obtained on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was 8.8 (Standard Deviation=6.6), showing that 62.7% of the participants presented mild symptoms of depression. In the logistic regression, several factors remained associated, such as female sex (Odds Ratio=2.02) and social isolation (Odds Ratio=1.48). Conclusion: Despite the low scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, factors such as female sex, social isolation, and the year 2021 increased the likelihood of developing symptoms of depression among the Brazilian population during the pandemic.
References
1 World Health Organization (WHO). Brazil Situation [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2023 [citado 2023 mar 20]. Disponível em: https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/br
2 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How to Protect Yourself & Others. [Internet]. EUA: CDC; 2022 [citado 2022 maio 19]. Disponível em: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.
3 Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, Barros MBA, Gomes CS, Machado IE, Souza PRBJ, et al. A pandemia da COVID-19 e as mudanças no estilo de vida dos brasileiros adultos: um estudo transversal,2020. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde. 2020; 29(4):e2020407. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-49742020000400026.
4 Ornell F, Schuch JB, Sordi AO, Kessler FHP. “Pandemic fear” and COVID-19: mental health burden and strategis. Braziliam Journal of Psychiatry. 2020; 42(3):232-235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0008.
5 Riehm KE, Holingue C, Smail EJ, Kapteyn A, Bennett D, Thrul J, et al. Trajectories of Mental Distress Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2021; 55:93-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa126.
6 Organização Pan-Americana de Saúde (OPAS), Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Intervenções Recomendadas em Saúde Mental e Apoio Psicossocial (SMAPS) durante a Pandemia. [Internet]. Brasília (DF): OPAS; 2020 [citado 2021 abr 21]. Disponível em: https://www.paho.org/pt/documentos/intervencoes-recomendadas-em-saude-mental-e-apoio-psicossocial-smaps-durante-pandemia.
7 World Health Organization (WHO). Mental Health [Internet]. Geneva : WHO; 2019 [citado 2026 fev 25]. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1
8 Leppich CR, Nunes DP, Souza FP. Sintomas depressivos e ansiosos e a qualidade de vida em profissionais da saúde durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Aletheia. 2022;55(1). Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.29327/226091.55.1-6.
9 Organização Pan- Americana da Saúde (OPAS). Depressão [Internet]. Washington: OPAS; 2024 [citado 2025 mar 30]. Disponível em: https://www.paho.org/pt/topicos/depressao
10 Barros MBA, Lima MG, Malta DC, Szwarcwald CL, de Azevedo RCS, Romero D, et al. Relato de tristeza/depressão, nervosismo/ansiedade e problemas de sono na população adulta brasileira durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Epidemiologia e Serviço de Saúde. 2020; 29(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-49742020000400018.
11 Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, Woodland L, Wessely S, Greenberg N, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet. 2020; 395: 912-920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)30460-8
12 Shi L, Lu ZA, Que JY, Huang XL, Liu L, Ran MS, et al. Prevalence of and Risk Factores Associated With Mental Health Symptoms Among the General Population in China During The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. JAMA Netword Open.2020; 3(7):e2014053. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14053.
13 Santos IS, Tavares BF, Munhoz TN, de Almeida LSP, da Silva NTB, Tams BD, et al. Sensibilidade e especificidade do Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) entre adultos da população geral. Caderno de Saúde Pública. 2013;29(8):1533-1543. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00144612
14 Pereira-Ávila FMV, Lam SC, Goulart MCL, Pereira-Caldeira NMV, Gir E. Fatores associados aos sintomas de depressão entre idosos durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Texto & Contexto Enfermagem. 2021; 30:e20200380. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2020-0380.
15 Santos KMR, Galvão MHR, Gomes SM, de Souza TA, Medeiros AA, Barbosa IR. Depressão e ansiedade em profissionais de enfermagem durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery. 2021;25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-EAN-2020-0370
16 Bezerra GD, Sena ASR, Braga ST, dos Santos MEN, Correia LDR, Clementino KMTF, Carneiro YVA, et al. O impacto da pandemia por COVID-19 na saúde mental dos profissionais de saúde: revisão integrativa. Revista Enfermagem Atual in Derme. 2020; 93:e-20012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31011/reaid-2020-v.93-n.0-art.758.
17 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estimativas da População- População residente das Unidades da Federação e Grandes Regiões publicadas no DOU. Brasília (DF): IBGE; 2021 [citado 2022 mai 18]. Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/populacao/9103-estimativas-de-populacao.html?edicao=31451&t=resultados.
18 Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression severity Measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2001; 16(9):606-6013. DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
19 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National and State Trends in Axiety and Depression Severity Scores Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic- United States, 2020-2021. [Internet]. EUA: CDC; 2021 [citado 2022 out 20]. Disponível em: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7040e3.htm?s_cid=mm7040e3_w.
20 Shah SM, Mohammad D, Qureshi MFH, Abbas MZ, Aleem S. Prevalence, Psychological Responses and Associated Correlates of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in a Global Population, During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Community Ment Health Journal. 2021; 57(1):101-110. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-020-00728-y.
21 Özdin S, Özdin SB. Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2020; 66(5)504-511. DOI: 10.1177/0020764020927051.
22 Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet. 2021; 398:1700-1712. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7.
23 Wang C, Pan R, Wan X, Tan Y, Xu L, Ho C, et al. Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729.
24 de Moura AAM, Bassoli IR, da Silveira BV, Diehi A, dos Santos MA, dos Santos RA, et al. Seria o isolamento social durante a pandemia de COVID-19 um fator de risco para depressão?. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem. 2022;75(Suppl 1):e20210594. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0594.
25 Mendonça FD, Rocha SS, Pinheiro DLP, de Oliveira SV. Região Norte do Brasil e a pandemia de COVID-19: análise socioeconômica e epidemiológica. Journal Health NPEPS. 2020; 5(1):20-37. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30681/252610104535.
26 Hossain MM, Tasnim S, Sultana A, Faizah F, Mazumder H, Zou L, et al. Epidemiology of mental health problems in COVID-19: a review. F1000 Research. 2020;9:636. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.24457.1.
27 Bressington DT, Cheung TC, Lam SC, Suen LKPS, Fong TKHF, Ho HSW, et al. Association Between Depression, Health Beliefs, and Face Mask Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2020; 11. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.571179.
28World Health Organization (WHO). Mental Health and COVID-19: Early evidence of the pandemic’s impact: Scientific brief, 2 march 2022 [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2022 [citado 2025 abr. 02]. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Sci_Brief-Mental_health-2022.1
29 Conselho Federal de Enfermagem (COFEN). Guia de Saúde Mental Pós- Pandemia no Brasil. [Internet]. Brasil: COFEN; 2020 [citado 2025 abr. 02]. Disponível em: https://biblioteca.cofen.gov.br/guia-saude-mental-pos-pandemia-brasil/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Hevelyn dos Santos da Rocha
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
By publishing in Revista Contexto & Saúde, authors agree to the following terms:
The works are licensed under the Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows:
Share — to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
Adapt — to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial.
These permissions are irrevocable, provided that the following terms are respected:
Attribution — authors must be properly credited, with a link to the license and indication of any changes made.
No additional restrictions — no legal or technological measures may be applied that restrict the use permitted by the license.
Notes:
The license does not apply to elements in the public domain or covered by legal exceptions.
The license does not grant all rights necessary for specific uses (e.g., image rights, privacy, or moral rights).
The journal is not responsible for opinions expressed in the articles, which are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Editor, with the support of the Editorial Board, reserves the right to suggest or request modifications when necessary.
Only original scientific articles presenting research results of interest that have not been published or simultaneously submitted to another journal with the same objective will be accepted.
Mentions of trademarks or specific products are intended solely for identification purposes, without any promotional association by the authors or the journal.
License Agreement (for articles published from September 2025): Authors retain copyright over their article and grant Revista Contexto & Saúde the right of first publication.
