And after the pandemic? Factors associated with obsessive compulsive disorder during COVID-19 pandemic
E depois da pandemia? fatores associados ao transtorno obessivo compulsivo na COVID-19
Cynthia de Freitas Melo , Gabriel Huet Borges de Arruda , Ícaro Moreira Costa , Lia Bezerra Martins
Suma Psicológica, (2025), 32(2), pp. 85-94.
Received 31 October 2024
Accepted 30 June 2025
Introdução/Objetivo: O presente estudo objetiva identificar fatores associados ao Transtorno Obsessivo Compulsivo (TOC) em brasileiros durante a COVID-19. Método: Contou-se com amostra não- probabilística de 1.899 pessoas de diferentes regiões, que responderam a instrumentos de avaliação de TOC, Recursos de Enfrentamento, Religiosidade, Apoio Percebido de Amigos e Parentes e sociodemográfico. A Hipótese de Proteção do suporte social e o Modelo Transacional de Estresse e Enfrentamento foram utilizados como referenciais teóricos para orientar a interpretação dos resultados. Resultados: Os resultados, a partir de comparações amostrais, identificaram grupos de maior vulnerabilidade para sintomas de TOC após a pandemia de COVID-19: população LGBTQI+, solteiros, desempregados e estudantes, menor renda familiar, sem religião ou não frequentar centros religiosos, com adesão ao isolamento social, residir ou conviver com pessoas dos grupos de risco, com histórico de infecção pelo novo coronavírus, ter condição mental prévia e histórico de tratamento ou acompanhamento psicológico/psiquiátrico. Ademais, as correlações e a regressão linear múltipla identificaram oito variáveis preditoras de sintomas de TOC: menor idade, não atuar como profissional de saúde, baixos índices de enfrentamento, menor apoio social percebido, não frequentar centros religiosos, sintomas de adoecimento mental anteriores à pandemia e maiores níveis de ansiedade e depressão. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a identificação de fatores preditores de problemas em saúde mental auxiliam na identificação de fatores de risco e proteção e delineamento de programas de prevenção e pósvenção mais eficazes.
Palavras-chave: Saúde mental, transtorno obessivo-compulsivo, surto, pandemia, efeitos psicolígicos
Introduction/objectives: The present study aims to identify factors associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A non-probabilistic sample was used, with 1,899 people from different regions, who responded to assessment instruments regarding OCD, Coping Resources, Religiosity, Perceived Support from Friends and Relatives and sociodemographic data. Buffering Hypothesis of social support and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping were employed as theoretical frameworks to guide the interpretation of results. Results: The results, based on sample comparisons, identified groups at higher vulnerability for OCD symptoms after the pandemic: the LGBTQI+ population, single people, unemployed individuals and students, lower income families, those without religion or not attending religious centres, those with adherence to social isolation, residing or living with individuals in risk groups, with a history of COVID-19 infection, pre-existing mental conditions, and a history of psychological/psychiatric treatment or counselling. Furthermore, correlations and multiple linear regression identified eight predictor variables for OCD symptoms: young age, not working as a healthcare professional, low coping scores, lower perceived social support, not attending religious centres, pre-existing mental illness symptoms before the pandemic, and high levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: It is concluded that identifying predictor factors for mental health issues helps in recognising risk and protective factors and designing more effective prevention and intervention programmes.
Keywords:
Mental health, obsessive-compulsive disorder, outbreak, pandemic, psychological effects
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