Globalization and Health (Oct 2021)
COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries
- Muhammad Aziz Rahman,
- Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam,
- Patraporn Tungpunkom,
- Farhana Sultana,
- Sheikh M. Alif,
- Biswajit Banik,
- Masudus Salehin,
- Bindu Joseph,
- Louisa Lam,
- Mimmie Claudine Watts,
- Sabria Jihan Khan,
- Sherief Ghozy,
- Sek Ying Chair,
- Wai Tong Chien,
- Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona,
- Nashwa El-Khazragy,
- Ilias Mahmud,
- Adhra Hilal Al Mawali,
- Turkiya Saleh Al Maskari,
- Rayan Jafnan Alharbi,
- Amr Hamza,
- Mohamad Ali Keblawi,
- Majeda Hammoud,
- Asmaa M. Elaidy,
- Agus Dwi Susanto,
- Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni,
- Alaa Ashraf AlQurashi,
- Almajdoub Ali,
- Amit Wazib,
- Cattaliya Siripattarakul Sanluang,
- Deena H. Elsori,
- Farhana Yasmin,
- Feni Fitrani Taufik,
- Manal Al Kloub,
- Mara Gerbabe Ruiz,
- Mohamed Elsayed,
- Nael Kamel Eltewacy,
- Nahed Al Laham,
- Natalia Oli,
- Ramy Abdelnaby,
- Rania Dweik,
- Ratree Thongyu,
- Sami Almustanyir,
- Shaila Rahman,
- Sirirat Nitayawan,
- Sondos Al-Madhoun,
- Suwit Inthong,
- Talal Ali Alharbi,
- Tamanna Bahar,
- Tribowo Tuahta Ginting,
- Wendy M. Cross
Affiliations
- Muhammad Aziz Rahman
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam
- Deakin University
- Patraporn Tungpunkom
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
- Farhana Sultana
- Telstra Health
- Sheikh M. Alif
- Monash University
- Biswajit Banik
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Masudus Salehin
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Bindu Joseph
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Louisa Lam
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Mimmie Claudine Watts
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- Sabria Jihan Khan
- The University of Melbourne
- Sherief Ghozy
- Neurovascular Research Lab, Radiology Department, Mayo Clinic
- Sek Ying Chair
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Wai Tong Chien
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona
- Psychiatric University Clinic Ulm
- Nashwa El-Khazragy
- Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
- Ilias Mahmud
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University
- Adhra Hilal Al Mawali
- Ministry of Health
- Turkiya Saleh Al Maskari
- Oman College of Health Sciences-South Sharquiya
- Rayan Jafnan Alharbi
- Department of Emergency Medical Service, Jazan University
- Amr Hamza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo
- Mohamad Ali Keblawi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo
- Majeda Hammoud
- Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University
- Asmaa M. Elaidy
- Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-azhar University
- Agus Dwi Susanto
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
- Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Alaa Ashraf AlQurashi
- King Fahad Medical City
- Almajdoub Ali
- Brega General Hospital
- Amit Wazib
- Enam Medical College & Hospital
- Cattaliya Siripattarakul Sanluang
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
- Deena H. Elsori
- Abu Dhabi University
- Farhana Yasmin
- Lahore Garrison University
- Feni Fitrani Taufik
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
- Manal Al Kloub
- The Hashemite University
- Mara Gerbabe Ruiz
- Oman College of Health Sciences-South Sharquiya
- Mohamed Elsayed
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm
- Nael Kamel Eltewacy
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University
- Nahed Al Laham
- Al Azhar University-Gaza
- Natalia Oli
- Kathmandu Medical College
- Ramy Abdelnaby
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University
- Rania Dweik
- Abu Dhabi University
- Ratree Thongyu
- Rangsit University
- Sami Almustanyir
- Ministry of Health
- Shaila Rahman
- Enam Medical College & Hospital
- Sirirat Nitayawan
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
- Sondos Al-Madhoun
- Al Azhar University-Gaza
- Suwit Inthong
- Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
- Talal Ali Alharbi
- King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University
- Tamanna Bahar
- National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital
- Tribowo Tuahta Ginting
- Psychiatric Medical Staff Group, Persahabatan General Hospital
- Wendy M. Cross
- School of Health, Federation University Australia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00768-3
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 17,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 19
Abstract
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.
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