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Impact of pre-existing depression and food insecurity on the trajectory of depressive symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in South Africa: A panel analysis of nationally representative South African data

Author

Listed:
  • Philile Dladla-Jaca

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Busisiwe P. Ncama

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Yoshan Moodley

    (Stellenbosch University)

  • Nafiisa Sobratee-Fajurally

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Rashieda Davids

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Mjabuliseni Simon C. Ngidi

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal
    University of KwaZulu-Natal
    School of AgriculturalEarth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Catherine Sutherland

    (University of KwaZulu Natal)

  • Muthulisi Siwela

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Albert T. Modi

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Rob Slotow

    (Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
    University College)

  • Jonathan K. Burns

    (University of Exeter
    University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Andrew Tomita

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal
    University of KwaZulu-Natal)

Abstract

We investigated the trajectory of depressive symptoms (“depression”) from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa (March 2020) until 2021, between individuals with and without pre-pandemic depression, specifically regarding the role of food security. Our investigation used publicly available panel data (N = 6,930) from the South African National Income Dynamics Study Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (SA-NIDS-CRAM from 2020–2021) on those who had also participated in the pre-pandemic South African National Income Dynamics Study (SA-NIDS, 2017) depression interview. We investigated trends in depressive symptomatology (based on a 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire) at SA-NIDS-CRAM Wave 2 (July 2020), Wave 3 (February 2021) and Wave 5 (May 2021). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with post-estimation linear combinations of estimators were fitted to investigate the roles of pre-pandemic depression (based on 2017 SA-NIDS data) and food insecurity during the pandemic on depressive symptomatology. During the pandemic, the highest levels of depression were observed consistently among those with pre-pandemic depression and food insecurity; and were lowest among those without pre-pandemic depression and food security. Depressive symptomatology rose in nearly equal magnitude during the early phases of the pandemic in two groups: those without pre-pandemic depression but food insecure during the pandemic; as well as those with pre-pandemic depression but food secure during the pandemic. However, this dynamic changed later in the pandemic, when higher depressive symptomatology was observed in the group with both pre-pandemic depression and food insecurity, widening the gap between them from Wave 3 (adj β = 0.63, p

Suggested Citation

  • Philile Dladla-Jaca & Busisiwe P. Ncama & Yoshan Moodley & Nafiisa Sobratee-Fajurally & Rashieda Davids & Mjabuliseni Simon C. Ngidi & Catherine Sutherland & Muthulisi Siwela & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2024. "Impact of pre-existing depression and food insecurity on the trajectory of depressive symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in South Africa: A panel analysis of nationally representativ," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(4), pages 1009-1018, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:16:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-024-01448-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-024-01448-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dorrit Posel & Adeola Oyenubi & Umakrishnan Kollamparambil, 2021. "Job loss and mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown: Evidence from South Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Servaas van der Berg & Leila Patel & Grace Bridgman, 2022. "Food insecurity in South Africa: Evidence from NIDS-CRAM wave 5," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(5), pages 722-737, September.
    3. Reiss, Franziska, 2013. "Socioeconomic inequalities and mental health problems in children and adolescents: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 24-31.
    4. Stéphane Hallegatte & Adrien Vogt-Schilb & Julie Rozenberg & Mook Bangalore & Chloé Beaudet, 2020. "From Poverty to Disaster and Back: a Review of the Literature," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 223-247, April.
    5. Mogesie Necho & Mekonnen Tsehay & Mengesha Birkie & Gebyaw Biset & Erkihun Tadesse, 2021. "Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(7), pages 892-906, November.
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