Estresse, ansiedade e depressão de cuidadores de crianças entre 3 e 5 anos de idade, no contexto da pandemia da covid-19

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers of children aged 3 to 5 years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Based on the question, "What factors affect the stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers of children aged 3 to 5 years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?" A descriptive design was used, with a cross-sectional quantitative research approach and qualitative categories derived from the questionnaire. A total of 78 participants who reported feeling stressed for prolonged periods during the pandemic took part in the study. Data was collected using a Google Forms questionnaire with the following data collection instruments: a) General data protocol - investigating socio-demographic, psychosocial, and clinical data of caregivers and their children, as well as family routines during the pandemic to understand changes in family dynamics, relationships, and context in response to COVID-19 control measures; b) DASS-21 Scale - the Brazilian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale to assess the occurrence of depressive, anxious, and stress-related symptoms in caregivers. The results showed that the majority of participants were women (92.3%) with an average age of 35.2 years. While the highest score in all DASS-21 subscales was "normal" (Anxiety=38.4%; Depression=32.0%; Stress=37.1%), there were caregivers with "extremely severe" levels of anxiety (30.7%), "moderate" levels of depression (20.5%), and "moderate" to "severe" levels of stress (both 19.2%). It was also observed that the pandemic significantly influenced the mental health of caregivers, especially in areas related to financial issues, marital problems, and a history of psychological or psychiatric illness. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the mental health of caregivers of young children, leading to high levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. Horizontal stressors, such as financial problems and conflicts leading to possible marital separation, have exacerbated these symptoms and affected family dynamics.