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. 2023 Apr;43(2):194-201.
doi: 10.1177/15394492221107557. Epub 2022 Jul 4.

COVID-19: Factors Predicting Depressive Symptoms in People Aging With Long-Term Physical Disabilities

Szu-Wei Chen  1 , Susan Rice  1 , Katelyn Storey  1 , Marian Keglovits  1 , Megen Devine  1 , Yan Yan  1 , Susan Stark  1
Affiliations

COVID-19: Factors Predicting Depressive Symptoms in People Aging With Long-Term Physical Disabilities

Szu-Wei Chen et al. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2023 Apr.

Abstract

The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may be greater than that of the viral infection. This impact is likely greater for disadvantaged groups such as people with long-term physical disabilities (PwLTPD). This cross-sectional study used a multiple linear regression model to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms and to understand their relative importance during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The model explained 58% of the variance in depressive symptoms. Anxiety was the most important predictor, accounting for 8% of variance. Higher levels of anxiety, loneliness, and financial stress; prior diagnosis of depression; and non-Black race predicted a higher level of depressive symptoms in PwLTPD during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational therapy practitioners should strategically acknowledge predictors of depression that cannot be modified and actively address those that can be modified through evidence-based interventions to improve depressive symptoms in PwLTPD.

Keywords: depression; mental health; occupational therapy; pandemic; people with disabilities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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