4. Discussion
In this study, we aimed to identify the prevalence of depression among adults in the UAE during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall prevalence of depression was 63%. The rate of depression was greater among females than among males, although this difference was not significant; perhaps females scored higher because our participants were mostly females. The prevalence of depression was also greater among younger adults aged 18-25 years than among older adults aged 36 years and older. This finding was expected, as adolescents are more prone to stress and are not accustomed to staying indoors during lockdown, which might have been affected by difficulties in remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic regulations . The prevalence of depression was greater among people in the low-income category than among those in the other income categories, possibly because of psychological pressure due to the strain that the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted on work stability, and the fear of losing their jobs during these times might have added to their stress . Our results were consistent with those of other published papers that revealed a sharp increase in the prevalence of not only depressive symptoms but also other mood disorders during this pandemic period . The analysis focused on the most common depressive symptoms, emphasizing the necessity of enhanced physician awareness of individuals exhibiting indications such as feelings of inadequacy, sadness, cognitive distraction, and loneliness. Most participants did not know any hotlines to call when depressed, which could suggest the lack of awareness of the community about this matter and the need to further advertise hotlines in social media, public places, and schools.
In UAE society, mental health is often a topic that is mostly avoided and difficult to discuss, making it easier to ignore the psychological health of individuals, which affects their well-being and daily life . According to a previous study, 38% of Sharjah’s undergraduate students suffer from clinical depression . A different study within the MENA region explored the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of depression among university students in Saudi Arabia and revealed that 48.8% of the participants were diagnosed with depression. Therefore, a fair number of people living in the UAE are suffering from depression, but this number might be higher; however, due to the limited epidemiological data available concerning depression in the UAE, it is much harder to grasp the real prevalence of depression in the population. There is a paucity of literature concerning the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE as measured with the CES-D; however, similar studies have explored the prevalence of depressive symptoms among UAE residents using the PHQ-8, with a prevalence of 58.4%, compared to 63% in our study . The CES-D tool was chosen as a tool for measuring depression in this study due to its successful use among people of a wide range of ages, as well as its use of a cutoff score that helps to identify individuals at risk for clinical depression, with good sensitivity, specificity, and high internal consistency .
When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, the quarantine period significantly increased distress among individuals. A lack of human interaction, loneliness, and physical inactivity due to quarantine can be influencing factors . A study conducted in 2011 revealed that the prevalence of depression among male immigrants who resided in labor camps was greater than that in the general UAE population. According to this study, most of these laborers live alone and are separated from their hometowns and families. Coupled with the stress and sense of social deprivation that they are already suffering from, it increases their chances of being depressed . This study revealed a striking similarity in the prevalence of depression among male immigrants residing in labor camps secondary to the social isolation experienced due to separation from their hometowns and families, with the prevalence of depression among individuals subjected to quarantine measures and curfews during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, both studies revealed that precipitating social isolation is a risk factor for depression.
We conducted this study in the UAE due to the limited epidemiological data about the prevalence of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. As this research adds to our knowledge, it will also help to establish a better understanding of the prevalence of depression among residents of the UAE and improve protocols for mental health during pandemics, which do not produce the desired effect .