Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the multifaceted impacts of global crises on vulnerable populations remains critical. This cross-sectional study examines associations between individual and contextual characteristics, personal wellbeing, and depressive symptoms among individuals living below the national poverty line, utilizing secondary data collected in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A structural equation model was applied to examine how socio-demographic characteristics, economic conditions, and health behaviors were associated with mental health outcomes, estimating both direct and indirect pathways between personal wellbeing and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 694 participants, 12.8% reported mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Older individuals and those who experienced changes in their work status during the pandemic reported lower levels of wellbeing and higher levels of depressive symptoms. These patterns may reflect heightened socioeconomic and psychosocial challenges faced by people living in poverty during crisis conditions. Additionally, individuals living in municipal areas and those with lower physical activity levels were more likely to report depressive symptoms. Although the study was conducted during the pandemic period, the findings illustrate how structural disadvantages and behavioral factors were associated with mental wellbeing among people living in poverty. CONCLUSIONS: These findings remain relevant for informing mental health and social protection strategies in future public health or economic crises.