Longitudinal Profile of Post traumatic symptoms in HealthCare Workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A latent transition model

Introduction: Pandemics have the potential to be considered traumatic event, increasing the risk of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in some populations, such as Health Care Workers. However, few longitudinal studies have evaluated the impact of prolonged exposure to the risk imposed by COVID-19. Methods: We evaluated the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychological distress in a Brazilian HealthCare Workers' sample (n = 1398) in three waves of assessment: from May to June 2020 (Wave 1), December 2020 to February 2021 (Wave 2) and May to August 2021 (Wave 3). Results: Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), it was identified two profiles: high-PTSS profile (Wave 1 - 23%; Wave 2 - 64% and Wave 3 - 73%) and low-PTSS (Wave 1 - 77%; Wave 2 - 36% and Wave 3 - 27%). Then, we used Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) to examine changes in symptom profiles over time, including gender, psychiatric diagnosis history, and pandemic-related fears as covariates. Results show that being female, working with fear of contamination, and fearing financial problems were strong predictors of changes in the profile from low-PTSS to high-PTSS. In addition, regardless of the initial profile, the participants had a high probability of being in the high-PTSS in the long run. Conclusion: There is a clear risk for HealthCare Workers to feel traumatized during a stressful critical healthcare condition

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EMOTIONAL STABILITY AND SUICIDALITY IN A BRAZILIAN SAMPLE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE MODERATION ROLE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

Introduction: Emotional stability is considered to be a protective factor for suicidal behavior. Nonetheless, suicidality is the result of a complex interaction of protective and risk factors, a key one being financial difficulties. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between emotional stability and suicidality in Brazilian individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and the moderation role of financial hardship. Method: A total of 2140 participants, 79.4% women, answered an online survey from November 2020 to January 2021, containing questions about suicidality as well as concerning economic hardship. The personality data was assessed with the TIPI. We used Pearson chi-square to compare categorical variables and Student t-test to compare continuous variables. Finally, we conducted multiple regression and moderation analysis using SPSS PROCESS v3.5 Macro model 1. Results: The participants who reported not having presented a wish to die, suicide intent, or suicide attempt in the previous month showed a significantly higher level of emotional stability. There was a significant interaction with financial hardship (p=0,006) for suicide attempt as the outcome, with significant association between emotional stability and suicide attempts only in the absence of financial hardship. Conclusion: The presence of financial hardship may suppress the protective role of emotional stability in suicidal behavior

GOING OUT NORMALLY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: INSIGHTS ABOUT THE LACK OF ADHESION TO SOCIAL DISTANCING

The population's adhesion to measures to ensure social distancing represents a great management challenge. Evidence has shown that social distancing is effective. However, it is challenging to separate government measures from social distancing driven by personal initiatives. Theory: It is possible that the output of protective behaviors, such as adherence to protective measures and staying in social isolation, is influenced by individual characteristics, such as personality traits or symptoms of mental distress of anxiogenic nature. We hypothesized that individuals with more expressive symptoms of fear or anxiety would have a more protective behavioral tendency in terms of risk exposure, leaving less home during the pandemic. In contrast, individuals with greater emotional stability, as they feel more secure and with a lower perception of risk, could go out more often. Material and Methods: A total of 2709 individuals from all regions of Brazil participated in the study (mean age = 42 years; 2134 women). Correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between personality traits according to the big five model and Psychopathological Symptoms (BSI). Then investigate how people that go out usually differ from people that stay at home, in both symptoms and personality traits. Finally, to investigate the predictors for going out usually, we use multiple regression analysis, using gender, marital status, level of education, and personality traits. Results: During the second wave of COVID-19 in Brazil, individuals with higher emotional stability tended to leave home more than those with more expressive levels of anxiogenic dysregulation. These results reinforce the role of both personality traits and psychopathological symptoms in prophylactic behavior during COVID-19 pandemics