The stress of a pandemic year has taken its toll in weight changes, increased alcoholic beverage consumption and sleep problems for many people in the United States and disproportionately for essential workers, parents with underage children, and Hispanics and African Americans.
That’s the conclusion of a study by the American Psychological Association (APA) based on a survey of 3,013 adults living in the country, conducted in English or Spanish in late February.
“The Stress in America survey reveals a secondary pandemic health crisis; parents, essential workers and communities of color are more likely to have physical and mental health consequences,” say psychologists.
A year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic, many adults say they have had unwanted weight changes, drank more alcohol and experienced other negative behavioral changes that could be related to ‘disability’ to deal with long-term stress.
According to the survey, just over 3 in 10 adults (31%) say their mental health has deteriorated compared to before the pandemic, and that percentage is higher in groups that have suffered more from the stress caused by an external situation. Than normal.
APA’s Executive Deputy Director Jaime Díaz-Granados, of Colombian descent, tells Efe that in the case of Hispanics, the fact that many have English as a second language and not the first one is a determining factor for them to suffer more. .
“They have a smaller circle of support than other groups for that reason,” underscores this specialist, who believes the stress caused by covid-19 will last a long time, in his opinion “years,” and it remains to be seen which one will. the long-term effects are on mental health.
WEIGHT AND ALCOHOL, ON THE RISE
In a country where obesity is a public health concern, 61% of those surveyed said they had changed their weight since the start of the pandemic. There are more who have gained weight than those who have lost weight.
Average weight gain was 15 pounds (6.81 kilos), but 42% gained an average of 29 pounds (13.1 kilos) and 10% more than 50 pounds (almost 23 kilos).
The average weight loss among those who lost weight was 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms), but 18% lost 26 pounds (11.8 kilograms) or more.
These weight changes “pose significant health risks, including increased vulnerability to serious coronavirus disease,” APA said in its study.
According to a recent report from the World Obesity Federation, 88% of deaths from covid-19 in the first year of the pandemic occurred in countries where more than half of the population is overweight, as is the case in the United States . one in cases (over 29 million) and deaths (nearly 530,000).
This is also evident from the research alcohol consumption soared during the pandemic and at the same time it became more difficult to get enough sleep.
Two in three respondents (67%) said they slept more or less than desired and nearly one in four (23%) admitted to drinking more alcohol to deal with stress.
PARENTS AND ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES, VERY STRESSED
The pandemic has taken a particularly heavy toll on parents of children under the age of 18.
47% of mothers who have children at home who are taught remotely say their mental health has deteriorated and 30% of fathers agree.
More than half of men with children (55%) said they gained more weight than they wanted and nearly half (48%) admitted to drinking more alcohol than usual to deal with stress.
In addition, the survey found that the majority of essential workers (54%), such as health workers and those employed in law enforcement, have developed unhealthy habits.
Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) said their mental health has deteriorated, while 3 in 4 (75%) said they may need more emotional support than they received.
THE RACE DIFFERENCE
The research clearly shows that people of color, many of whom are essential workers, have had a harder time coping with stress.
78% of Hispanics surveyed experienced changes in sleep, a higher percentage than African Americans (76%), Caucasians (63%), and Asians (61%) and the same thing happens with weight change: 71% Hispanics, 64% African Americans, 58% White and 54% Asian.
At the same time, African Americans are least comfortable (54%) returning to their pre-pandemic life, followed by Hispanics (48%), and with face-to-face interaction (57% vs. 50% Latinos).