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 Sharjahâs 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 .