tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Global Health
. 2021 Oct 1;17(1):117.
doi: 10.1186/s12992-021-00768-3.
COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries
Muhammad Aziz Rahman[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Patraporn Tungpunkom[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Farhana Sultana[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sheikh M Alif[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Biswajit Banik[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Masudus Salehin[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Bindu Joseph[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Louisa Lam[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Mimmie Claudine Watts[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Sabria Jihan Khan[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Sherief Ghozy[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Sek Ying Chair[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Wai Tong Chien[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Nashwa El-Khazragy[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Ilias Mahmud[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Adhra Hilal Al Mawali[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Turkiya Saleh Al Maskari[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Rayan Jafnan Alharbi[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Amr Hamza[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Mohamad Ali Keblawi[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Majeda Hammoud[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Asmaa M Elaidy[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Agus Dwi Susanto[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Alaa Ashraf AlQurashi[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Almajdoub Ali[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Amit Wazib[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Cattaliya Siripattarakul Sanluang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Deena H Elsori[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Farhana Yasmin[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Feni Fitrani Taufik[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Manal Al Kloub[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Mara Gerbabe Ruiz[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Mohamed Elsayed[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Nael Kamel Eltewacy[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Nahed Al Laham[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Natalia Oli[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Ramy Abdelnaby[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Rania Dweik[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Ratree Thongyu[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Sami Almustanyir[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Shaila Rahman[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Sirirat Nitayawan[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sondos Al-Madhoun[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Suwit Inthong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Talal Ali Alharbi[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Tamanna Bahar[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Tribowo Tuahta Ginting[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Wendy M Cross[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The current pandemic of COVID-19 impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations globally.
Objectives: We aimed to examine the extent and identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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]).
Conclusions: 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.
Keywords: COVID-19; coping; coronavirus; fear; mental health; psychological distress; resilience.
. 2021 Oct 1;17(1):117.
doi: 10.1186/s12992-021-00768-3.
COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries
Muhammad Aziz Rahman[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Patraporn Tungpunkom[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Farhana Sultana[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sheikh M Alif[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Biswajit Banik[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Masudus Salehin[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Bindu Joseph[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Louisa Lam[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Mimmie Claudine Watts[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Sabria Jihan Khan[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Sherief Ghozy[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Sek Ying Chair[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Wai Tong Chien[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Nashwa El-Khazragy[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Ilias Mahmud[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Adhra Hilal Al Mawali[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Turkiya Saleh Al Maskari[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Rayan Jafnan Alharbi[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Amr Hamza[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Mohamad Ali Keblawi[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Majeda Hammoud[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Asmaa M Elaidy[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Agus Dwi Susanto[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Alaa Ashraf AlQurashi[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Almajdoub Ali[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Amit Wazib[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Cattaliya Siripattarakul Sanluang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Deena H Elsori[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Farhana Yasmin[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Feni Fitrani Taufik[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Manal Al Kloub[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Mara Gerbabe Ruiz[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Mohamed Elsayed[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Nael Kamel Eltewacy[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Nahed Al Laham[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Natalia Oli[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Ramy Abdelnaby[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Rania Dweik[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Ratree Thongyu[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Sami Almustanyir[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Shaila Rahman[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Sirirat Nitayawan[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sondos Al-Madhoun[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Suwit Inthong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Talal Ali Alharbi[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Tamanna Bahar[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Tribowo Tuahta Ginting[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Wendy M Cross[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34598720
- DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00768-3
Abstract
Background: The current pandemic of COVID-19 impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations globally.
Objectives: We aimed to examine the extent and identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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]).
Conclusions: 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.
Keywords: COVID-19; coping; coronavirus; fear; mental health; psychological distress; resilience.