The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant mental health challenges, particularly
for vulnerable populations, including non-binary gender individuals. The COMET international
study aimed to investigate specific risk factors for clinical depression or distress
during the pandemic, also in these special populations.Chi-square tests were used
for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance.
Risk Ratios (RR) were calculated, and a Multiple Backward Stepwise Linear Regression
Analysis (MBSLRA) was followed with those variables given significant results at screening
and with the presence of distress or depression or the lack of both of them.The most
important risk factors for depression were female (RR = 1.59-5.49) and non-binary
gender (RR = 1.56-7.41), unemployment (RR = 1.41-6.57), not working during lockdowns
(RR = 1.43-5.79), bad general health (RR = 2.74-9.98), chronic somatic disorder (RR
= 1.22-5.57), history of mental disorders (depression RR = 2.31-9.47; suicide attempt
RR = 2.33-9.75; psychosis RR = 2.14-10.08; Bipolar disorder RR = 2.75-12.86), smoking
status (RR = 1.15-5.31) and substance use (RR = 1.77-8.01). The risk factors for distress
or depression that survived MBSLRA were younger age, being widowed, living alone,
bad general health, being a carer, chronic somatic disorder, not working during lockdowns,
being single, self-reported history of depression, bipolar disorder, self-harm, suicide
attempts and of other mental disorders, smoking, alcohol, and substance use.Targeted
preventive interventions are crucial to safeguard the mental health of vulnerable
groups, emphasizing the importance of diverse samples in future research.Online data
collection may have resulted in the underrepresentation of certain population groups.
