RT Journal Article
T1 Psychological distress in Spanish-speaking countries during the COVID-19 pandemic A systematic review and meta-analysis
A1 Escobar Segovia, Kenny
A1 Domínguez Salas, Sara
A1 García Iglesias, Juan Jesús
A1 López López, Daniel
A1 Allande Cussó, Regina
A1 Ruiz Frutos, Carlos
A1 Artero García, Alejandro
A1 Gómez Salgado, Juan
K1 COVID-19
K1 Mental health
K1 Psychological distress
K1 Spanish-speaking countries
AB In Spanish-speaking countries, with their cultural, social, and economic diversity, this phenomenon has become particularly relevant and has been aggravated by factors such as socioeconomic inequalities and unequal access to mental health services. The aim of this systematic review was to consolidate the available knowledge on PD in Spanish-speaking population groups by assessing both the prevalence of symptoms and the associated factors in different demographic groups and geographic contexts, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus electronic databases in January 2025. The search included studies published from the beginning of the pandemic until May 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical assessment tool was used to evaluate the chosen studies’ methodological quality. Results: A total of 53 studies were included in the review, which involved research conducted in Spain, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Colombia. The results revealed a high prevalence of PD in these countries, especially among healthcare workers, women, and young people. The assessment methods used included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ, GHQ-12, and GHQ-28 versions), the Kessler scale (K-6 and K-10 versions), and the 90-symptom checklist questionnaire (SCL-90-R), that allowed obtaining various dimensions of PD. The studies also highlighted the importance of the sense of coherence and work engagement as protective factors. Conclusions: In the COVID-19 pandemic, PD was analyzed to be severe in Spanish-speaking countries, pointing to the need for specific and culturally adapted interventions to address this public mental health crisis. This is why public health policies must focus on the prevention and treatment of PD, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
PB Wolters Kluwer Health
SN 0025-7974
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27660
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27660
LA eng
NO Escobar-Segovia, Kenny MSca; Domínguez-Salas, Sara PhDb; García-Iglesias, Juan Jesús PhDc,*; López-López, Daniel PhDd; Allande-Cussó, Regina PhDe; Ruiz-Frutos, Carlos MD, PhDc,f; Artero-García, Alejandro PhDg; Gómez-Salgado, Juan PhDc,f. Psychological distress in Spanish-speaking countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine 105(2):p e47062, January 09, 2026. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000047062
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 31 may 2026