Does Hope and Optimism Moderate the Negative Mental Health Impacts of Isolation Caused By the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Indigenous and Indigenous-Latinos?

Background & Purpose:

Indigenous and Latino cultures tend to be more collectivist and focus on family centered interactions (Roslie et al, 2018). In addition to the negative physical health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, having to isolate from family members may have also had deleterious mental health impacts. Nevertheless, Indigenous and Latino communities have demonstrated resilience and optimism for the future (Zaretsky et al., 2019). The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health impacts of isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as if hope and optimism would moderate the potential negative impacts of isolation for Indigenous and Indigenous-Latinos in the US.

Methodology:

Data were drawn from a study of adults (n=627) who self-identified as Indigenous or Indigenous-Latinos and were living in the US during 2020. The sample included 81.8% self-identified women and 18.2% self-identified men, almost 60% of participants were between the ages of 18-35. Isolation was a 5-item scale (α = .75). Hope and Optimism was a 4-item scale (α= .85). Using the DAS-21 (Daza, Novy, Stanley, & Averill, 2002), the dependent variables in this study focused on participants’ self-reported symptoms of Depression (7-item scale, α= .90), Anxiety (7-item scale, α= .85, and Stress (7-item scale α= .92).

Twelve total models were created to complete the moderation analysis to examine if hope and optimism moderate the negative mental health impacts of isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Main effects were present even when controlling for the effects of the control variables. Thus, isolation and hope and optimism were significant predictors of greater or fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The final step consisted of entering the interaction variable, isolation x hope and optimism, to create the final models.

Results:

The results of the main effects models indicated that participants who reported greater isolation reported significantly greater symptoms of: 1) Depression (p < .001, CI(95%) .234, .638); 2) Anxiety (p < .01, CI(95%) .107, .529); and 3) Stress (p < .001, CI(95%) .181, .710). Participants who reported greater hope and optimism during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly more less to report symptoms of:1) Depression (p < .001, CI(95%) -.597, -.212); 2) Anxiety (p < .001, CI(95%) -.453, -.101); and 3) Stress (p < .001, CI(95%) -.590, -.147). The final models included the interaction of isolation x hope and optimism, but there were no significant results.

Conclusions & Implications:

Participants who reported greater isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic reported greater symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Those who reported greater hope and optimism about the future, reported significantly lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. However, no moderation of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were found, which may indicate that despite the strength and resiliency of Indigenous and Latino populations, the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have extremely negative mental health effects. Social work researchers and practitioners must work with Indigenous and Latino communities to address the long-term mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.