COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries.

Journal: Globalization and health

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  School of Health, Federation University Australia, Berwick, Victoria, Australia. ma.rahman@federation.edu.au. Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Telstra Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. School of Health, Federation University Australia, Berwick, Victoria, Australia. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Neurovascular Research Lab, Radiology Department, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Psychiatric University Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukairiyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Oman College of Health Sciences-South Sharquiya, Sur, Sultanate of Oman. Department of Emergency Medical Service, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria. Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Brega General Hospital, Brega, Libya. Enam Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan. The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Minia, Egypt. Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza strip, Palestine. Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal. Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand. Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Psychiatric Medical Staff Group, Persahabatan General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Abstract summary 

The current pandemic of COVID-19 impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations globally.We aimed to examine the extent and identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping.We conducted a cross-sectional study across 17 countries during Jun-2020 to Jan-2021. Levels of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), fear of COVID-19 (Fear of COVID-19 Scale), and coping (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) were assessed.A total of 8,559 people participated; mean age (±SD) was 33(±13) years, 64% were females and 40% self-identified as frontline workers. More than two-thirds (69%) experienced moderate-to-very high levels of psychological distress, which was 46% in Thailand and 91% in Egypt. A quarter (24%) had high levels of fear of COVID-19, which was as low as 9% in Libya and as high as 38% in Bangladesh. More than half (57%) exhibited medium to high resilient coping; the lowest prevalence (3%) was reported in Australia and the highest (72%) in Syria. Being female (AOR 1.31 [95% CIs 1.09-1.57]), perceived distress due to change of employment status (1.56 [1.29-1.90]), comorbidity with mental health conditions (3.02 [1.20-7.60]) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress and fear. Doctors had higher psychological distress (1.43 [1.04-1.97]), but low levels of fear of COVID-19 (0.55 [0.41-0.76]); nurses had medium to high resilient coping (1.30 [1.03-1.65]).The extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping varied by country; however, we identified few higher risk groups who were more vulnerable than others. There is an urgent need to prioritise health and well-being of those people through well-designed intervention that may need to be tailored to meet country specific requirements.

Authors & Co-authors:  Rahman Muhammad Aziz MA Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful SMS Tungpunkom Patraporn P Sultana Farhana F Alif Sheikh M SM Banik Biswajit B Salehin Masudus M Joseph Bindu B Lam Louisa L Watts Mimmie Claudine MC Khan Sabria Jihan SJ Ghozy Sherief S Chair Sek Ying SY Chien Wai Tong WT Schönfeldt-Lecuona Carlos C El-Khazragy Nashwa N Mahmud Ilias I Al Mawali Adhra Hilal AH Al Maskari Turkiya Saleh TS Alharbi Rayan Jafnan RJ Hamza Amr A Keblawi Mohamad Ali MA Hammoud Majeda M Elaidy Asmaa M AM Susanto Agus Dwi AD Bahar Moni Ahmed Suparno AS AlQurashi Alaa Ashraf AA Ali Almajdoub A Wazib Amit A Sanluang Cattaliya Siripattarakul CS Elsori Deena H DH Yasmin Farhana F Taufik Feni Fitrani FF Al Kloub Manal M Ruiz Mara Gerbabe MG Elsayed Mohamed M Eltewacy Nael Kamel NK Al Laham Nahed N Oli Natalia N Abdelnaby Ramy R Dweik Rania R Thongyu Ratree R Almustanyir Sami S Rahman Shaila S Nitayawan Sirirat S Al-Madhoun Sondos S Inthong Suwit S Alharbi Talal Ali TA Bahar Tamanna T Ginting Tribowo Tuahta TT Cross Wendy M WM

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard [https://covid19.who.int/]
Authors :  51
Identifiers
Doi : 117
SSN : 1744-8603
Study Population
Female,Females
Mesh Terms
Adaptation, Psychological
Other Terms
COVID-19;coping;coronavirus;fear;mental health;psychological distress;resilience
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Libya
Publication Country
England