Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones
Background Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been shown to be associated with poor mental health in affected zones. However, no study has yet explored its impact on adolescents’ mental health. Aims This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression and anxiety sympto...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005574/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797657217030160384 |
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| author | Jude Mary Cénat Elisabeth Dromer Shruti Mistry Daniela Gonzalez Villarreal Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi Rose Darly Dalexis Wina Paul Darius Jacqueline Bukaka Oléa Balayulu-Makila Noble Luyeye Daniel Derivois Cécile Rousseau |
| author_facet | Jude Mary Cénat Elisabeth Dromer Shruti Mistry Daniela Gonzalez Villarreal Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi Rose Darly Dalexis Wina Paul Darius Jacqueline Bukaka Oléa Balayulu-Makila Noble Luyeye Daniel Derivois Cécile Rousseau |
| author_sort | Jude Mary Cénat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been shown to be associated with poor mental health in affected zones. However, no study has yet explored its impact on adolescents’ mental health.
Aims
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among adolescents in EVD-affected areas in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method
A provincial sample of adolescents aged 12–17 years (M = 14.84, s.d. = 1.49) living in the 18 urban and rural areas affected by the 2018 EVD outbreak completed a two-wave longitudinal survey. Surveys assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety, exposure to Ebola, social support and sociodemographic information.
Results
A total of 490 participants completed the baseline and follow-up surveys, 50% of whom were female. Elevated and worsened depressive symptoms were observed among participants from the baseline (56.94%) to the follow-up (91.43%; z = −11.37, P < 0.001), whereas anxiety symptoms decreased from the baseline (36.33%) to follow-up (24.90%; z = 4.06, P < 0.001). The final generalised estimating equation model showed that anxiety symptoms decreased over time (B = −3.92, P < 0.001), while depression symptoms increased (B = 4.79, P < 0.001). Stigmatisation related to Ebola positively predicted anxiety (B = 5.41, P < 0.001) and depression symptoms (B = 0.4452, P = 0.009). Social support negatively predicted anxiety (B = −1.13, P = 0.004) and depression (B = −0.98, P < 0.001) symptoms but only moderated the association between stigmatisation and depression symptoms (B = −0.67, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Most adolescents living in EVD-affected areas experience mental health issues. Stigmatisation related to EVD and living in urban areas are the most consistent predictors of mental health problems. Nevertheless, social support remains a protective factor for depression and anxiety symptoms and a necessary resource for building resilience.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:42:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc4b18a98e084398a6245fcb1c65e4bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:42:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc4b18a98e084398a6245fcb1c65e4bf2023-10-18T09:39:34ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242023-11-01910.1192/bjo.2023.557Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zonesJude Mary Cénat0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3628-6904Elisabeth Dromer1Shruti Mistry2Daniela Gonzalez Villarreal3Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi4Rose Darly Dalexis5Wina Paul Darius6Jacqueline Bukaka7Oléa Balayulu-Makila8Noble Luyeye9Daniel Derivois10Cécile Rousseau11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6533-6774School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Research Chair on Black Health, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Health, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Monterrey, MexicoDepartment of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaInterdisciplinary School of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR, CongoDepartment of Psychology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR, CongoDepartment of Psychology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR, CongoDepartment of Psychology, Université Bourgogne Franche Comté, Bourgogne, FranceDivision of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Background Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been shown to be associated with poor mental health in affected zones. However, no study has yet explored its impact on adolescents’ mental health. Aims This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among adolescents in EVD-affected areas in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A provincial sample of adolescents aged 12–17 years (M = 14.84, s.d. = 1.49) living in the 18 urban and rural areas affected by the 2018 EVD outbreak completed a two-wave longitudinal survey. Surveys assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety, exposure to Ebola, social support and sociodemographic information. Results A total of 490 participants completed the baseline and follow-up surveys, 50% of whom were female. Elevated and worsened depressive symptoms were observed among participants from the baseline (56.94%) to the follow-up (91.43%; z = −11.37, P < 0.001), whereas anxiety symptoms decreased from the baseline (36.33%) to follow-up (24.90%; z = 4.06, P < 0.001). The final generalised estimating equation model showed that anxiety symptoms decreased over time (B = −3.92, P < 0.001), while depression symptoms increased (B = 4.79, P < 0.001). Stigmatisation related to Ebola positively predicted anxiety (B = 5.41, P < 0.001) and depression symptoms (B = 0.4452, P = 0.009). Social support negatively predicted anxiety (B = −1.13, P = 0.004) and depression (B = −0.98, P < 0.001) symptoms but only moderated the association between stigmatisation and depression symptoms (B = −0.67, P < 0.001). Conclusions Most adolescents living in EVD-affected areas experience mental health issues. Stigmatisation related to EVD and living in urban areas are the most consistent predictors of mental health problems. Nevertheless, social support remains a protective factor for depression and anxiety symptoms and a necessary resource for building resilience. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005574/type/journal_articleEbola virus diseaseCOVID-19depressionanxietystigmatisation |
| spellingShingle | Jude Mary Cénat Elisabeth Dromer Shruti Mistry Daniela Gonzalez Villarreal Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi Rose Darly Dalexis Wina Paul Darius Jacqueline Bukaka Oléa Balayulu-Makila Noble Luyeye Daniel Derivois Cécile Rousseau Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones BJPsych Open Ebola virus disease COVID-19 depression anxiety stigmatisation |
| title | Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones |
| title_full | Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones |
| title_short | Prevalence and determinants of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety–depression symptoms among adolescents in Ebola-affected zones |
| title_sort | prevalence and determinants of anxiety depression and comorbid anxiety depression symptoms among adolescents in ebola affected zones |
| topic | Ebola virus disease COVID-19 depression anxiety stigmatisation |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005574/type/journal_article |
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