Mental health symptoms in Latin America during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic: a meta-analysis of prevalence and potential moderator variables

This meta-analysis examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Latin America during its first year, using data from 71 studies with 231,441 participants. To address knowledge gaps in the existent literature we considered the type of study design, country of origin, effects of lockdown, and several potential moderating factors. We found prevalence rates of 31% for depression symptoms and 36% for anxiety symptoms. These estimates were higher than those observed in studies from the northern hemisphere. Longitudinal studies showed that depressive symptoms persisted over time, and lockdowns were associated with mildly increased anxiety levels. Female gender was associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms. Our analyses revealed high statistical heterogeneity, and moderating factors such as pandemic duration, COVID-19 cases and deaths, and lockdown stringency did not explain observed mental health symptoms. Methodological limitations include an overreliance on cross-sectional studies and a lack of pre-pandemic parameters that may lead to an overestimation of mental health symptom rates. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into mental health symptoms in Latin America during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for improved epidemiological research and mental health support in the region.