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Comparison of the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable and Non-Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Author

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  • Soo-Hyun Nam

    (Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Jeong-Hyun Nam

    (Department of Korean Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan 50612, Korea)

  • Chan-Young Kwon

    (Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-Eui University, Busan 47227, Korea)

Abstract

Vulnerable populations may be more vulnerable to mental health problems posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A systematic review was performed to compare the mental health impact of COVID-19 between vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups. Five electronic databases were searched for observational studies reporting the psychological outcomes of both vulnerable populations and healthy controls during the COVID-19 era. The primary outcomes are the severity of depression and anxiety, and secondary outcomes include other aspects of mental health such as stress or sleep disturbance. Meta-analysis was performed for the severity of mental health symptoms, and the results were presented as standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals. A total of 25 studies were included. According to the findings, the elderly generally experienced significantly lower levels of psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. Pregnant women, patients with chronic diseases, and patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders showed mixed results according to each mental health outcome. The results indicate that vulnerable groups have been affected differently in the COVID-19 era. Though the insufficient number and heterogeneity of included studies leave the results inconclusive, our findings may contribute to identifying priorities of mental health needs among various vulnerable populations and allocating health resources with efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Soo-Hyun Nam & Jeong-Hyun Nam & Chan-Young Kwon, 2021. "Comparison of the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable and Non-Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10830-:d:656897
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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    2. Angela M. Kunzler & Saskia Lindner & Nikolaus Röthke & Sarah K. Schäfer & Maria-Inti Metzendorf & Alexandra Sachkova & Roxana Müller-Eberstein & Carmen Klinger & Jacob Burns & Michaela Coenen & Klaus , 2023. "Mental Health Impact of Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals with Pre-Existing Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-33, January.
    3. Daniel Deimel & Christine Firk & Heino Stöver & Nicolas Hees & Norbert Scherbaum & Simon Fleißner, 2022. "Substance Use and Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Hai-Anh Dang & Minh Do, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic and the Health and Well-being of Vulnerable People in Vietnam," Working Papers 628, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    5. Catherine Briand & Regis Hakin & Julio Macario de Medeiros & Francesca Luconi & Brigitte Vachon & Marie-Josée Drolet & Antoine Boivin & Catherine Vallée & Sarah Montminy, 2023. "Learner Experience of an Online Co-Learning Model to Support Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.

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