Work, depression and pandemic stress in times of COVID-19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate the existence of relationships between Pandemic Stress and Depression, and determine significant differences focusing on aspects inherent to work like employment situation, company size and work modality. It was a non-experimental, correlational, and comparative, cross-sectional investigation. Instruments: SISCO Pandemic Stress Inventory (ISEP) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). In a sample of 520 subjects from Buenos Aires, Argentina, a positive association was found between Depression and Pandemic Stress (PS), specific stressors, and reactions to them. It was found that high levels of Pandemic Stress, (i.e.: fear that some relative is infected, hospital consultation, insufficient resources, among others) were associated to high levels of depression symptoms such as hopelessness, pessimism, self-criticism and sadness. Regarding the employment situation, the unemployed sample presented a higher level of depression, PS and reactions to it. 40.2% of the owners/entrepreneurs (99.3% of MSMEs) thought at some point in the quarantine to close their businesses, they also evidenced the highest levels of depression. People who worked from home showed a higher level of PS than those who worked outside their home, and in turn, they used the most coping strategies. MSMEs employees had a higher level of stressors than employees of large companies. Finally, 54.7% of the sample saw their economic income reduced, 44.2% presented a moderate to a severe Depression level, and 80.5% showed a strong to a very strong level of Pandemic Stress. This proves the importance of investigating the psychological impact of the demands around COVID-19 according to vital factors such as work and the economy, promoting public policies, developing tools, and providing resources to face the biopsychosocial vicissitudes that the population of developing countries is going through.