Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia.
Compr Psychiatry. 2020 10; 102:152192.CP

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging infection causing a widely spread pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current COVID-2019 pandemic is prompting fear of falling sick, dying, helplessness and stigma, urgent and timely understanding of mental health status is needed to help the community. Our investigation designed to survey the general population in Saudi Arabia to assess the degree of psychological impact during the pandemic.

METHODS

During the early stage of the outbreak, we conducted an online-based survey using a snowballing sample technique. The surveys collected data about several aspects of participant sociodemographic, knowledge, concerns, psychological impact, and mental health status. We assessed the psychological impact and mental health status using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).

RESULTS

Our survey recruited 1160 respondents of the general public of Saudi Arabia. Of them, 23.6% reported moderate or severe psychological impact of the outbreak, 28.3%,24%, and 22.3% reported moderate to severe depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. Females reported IES-R (B: 5.46, 95% CI: 3.61 to 7.31) and DASS subscales B coefficient ranged from 1.65 to 2.63, along with high-school students, working in the medical field, and poor self-reported health status was significantly associated with a high level of IES-R and DASS scales (p < .05). Experiencing breathing difficulty and dizziness showed a stronger association with higher IES-R and DASS subscales than other somatic symptoms (e.g., headache and fever);(p < .001). Respondents who practiced specific preventative measures (e.g., hand washing, social distancing) demonstrated a protective effect against stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Social distancing appeared to be protective on stress and anxiety subscales (B: -1.49, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.19),(B: -1.53, 95% CI: -2.50 to -0.57),respectively; and hand hygiene on depression subscale (B: -2.43, 95% CI: -4.44 to -0.42).

CONCLUSION

Throughout the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, the results showed that nearly one-fourth of the sampled general population experienced moderate to severe psychological impact. Following specific precautionary measures appeared to have a protective effect on the individual's mental health. Our findings can be used to construct psychological interventions directed toward vulnerable populations and to implement public mental health strategies in the early stages of the outbreak.

Links

PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Alkhamees AA
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: A.alkhamees@qu.edu.sa.
Alrashed SA
College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al Qassim 6688, Saudi Arabia.
Alzunaydi AA
College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al Qassim 6688, Saudi Arabia.
Almohimeed AS
College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al Qassim 6688, Saudi Arabia.
Aljohani MS
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: M.aljohani@qu.edu.sa.

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAgedAnxietyAnxiety DisordersBetacoronavirusCOVID-19CoronavirusCoronavirus InfectionsDepressionFearFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthMiddle AgedPandemicsPneumonia, ViralSARS-CoV-2Saudi ArabiaSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32688022

Citation

Alkhamees, Abdulmajeed A., et al. "The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic On the General Population of Saudi Arabia." Comprehensive Psychiatry, vol. 102, 2020, p. 152192.
Alkhamees AA, Alrashed SA, Alzunaydi AA, et al. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Compr Psychiatry. 2020;102:152192.
Alkhamees, A. A., Alrashed, S. A., Alzunaydi, A. A., Almohimeed, A. S., & Aljohani, M. S. (2020). The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 102, 152192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152192
Alkhamees AA, et al. The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic On the General Population of Saudi Arabia. Compr Psychiatry. 2020;102:152192. PubMed PMID: 32688022.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. AU - Alkhamees,Abdulmajeed A, AU - Alrashed,Saleh A, AU - Alzunaydi,Ali A, AU - Almohimeed,Ahmed S, AU - Aljohani,Moath S, Y1 - 2020/07/12/ PY - 2020/04/17/received PY - 2020/06/06/revised PY - 2020/07/02/accepted PY - 2020/7/21/pubmed PY - 2020/10/2/medline PY - 2020/7/21/entrez KW - Anxiety KW - Coronavirus KW - Depression KW - IES KW - Knowledge KW - Pandemic KW - Precaution KW - Psychological impact KW - Saudi Arabia KW - Stress SP - 152192 EP - 152192 JF - Comprehensive psychiatry JO - Compr Psychiatry VL - 102 N2 - BACKGROUND: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging infection causing a widely spread pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current COVID-2019 pandemic is prompting fear of falling sick, dying, helplessness and stigma, urgent and timely understanding of mental health status is needed to help the community. Our investigation designed to survey the general population in Saudi Arabia to assess the degree of psychological impact during the pandemic. METHODS: During the early stage of the outbreak, we conducted an online-based survey using a snowballing sample technique. The surveys collected data about several aspects of participant sociodemographic, knowledge, concerns, psychological impact, and mental health status. We assessed the psychological impact and mental health status using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). RESULTS: Our survey recruited 1160 respondents of the general public of Saudi Arabia. Of them, 23.6% reported moderate or severe psychological impact of the outbreak, 28.3%,24%, and 22.3% reported moderate to severe depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. Females reported IES-R (B: 5.46, 95% CI: 3.61 to 7.31) and DASS subscales B coefficient ranged from 1.65 to 2.63, along with high-school students, working in the medical field, and poor self-reported health status was significantly associated with a high level of IES-R and DASS scales (p < .05). Experiencing breathing difficulty and dizziness showed a stronger association with higher IES-R and DASS subscales than other somatic symptoms (e.g., headache and fever);(p < .001). Respondents who practiced specific preventative measures (e.g., hand washing, social distancing) demonstrated a protective effect against stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Social distancing appeared to be protective on stress and anxiety subscales (B: -1.49, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.19),(B: -1.53, 95% CI: -2.50 to -0.57),respectively; and hand hygiene on depression subscale (B: -2.43, 95% CI: -4.44 to -0.42). CONCLUSION: Throughout the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, the results showed that nearly one-fourth of the sampled general population experienced moderate to severe psychological impact. Following specific precautionary measures appeared to have a protective effect on the individual's mental health. Our findings can be used to construct psychological interventions directed toward vulnerable populations and to implement public mental health strategies in the early stages of the outbreak. SN - 1532-8384 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32688022/The_psychological_impact_of_COVID_19_pandemic_on_the_general_population_of_Saudi_Arabia_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -