Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Abstract

A Study of the Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic

Ali Abdullah Alaseeri, Mamdouh Ali Kotb, Farraj Mohammed Alshalwi, Abdulrahman khulaif Alenezi, Sultan Mohmammd Alkahtani, Turky Saad Algraene, Abdulsalam Saud Alharbi, Ahmed M Kamal*

Background: World Health organization announced COVID-19 pandemic by March 11,2020. As a result, Saudi Arabia started strict precautionary measurements to minimize the implications of this pandemic. In spite of most individuals accept these measures, they experienced psychological distress. Objective: To assess the early psychological reactions to COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the possible explanation of them. Methods: the study included 1588 participants who are responded to structured online questionnaire. Demographic characteristics, source of pandemic news, history of coming from infected countries or contact with infected persons, physical symptoms suggesting COVID-19 infection and opinion about precautionary measures are assessed. Early psychological impacts are assessed by Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Defense mechanisms used by respondents are assessed by Arabic version of Defense Style Questionnaire 40 (DSQ-40). Results: Social media was the main source of information for COVID-19 pandemic. Stress, anxiety and depression significantly (<0.001) more among female (X2 =20.4, X2 =46.14, X2 =15.67 respectively), those younger than 50 years (X2 =80.78, X2 =156.9, X2 =80.97 respectively), and non-health care providers (X2 =208.38, X2 =311.3, X2 =304.74 respectively). Home quarantine was significantly associated with stress (X2 =37.33, p<0.001), anxiety (X2 =6.812, p<0.009) and depression (X2 =15.41, p<0.001). Limitations: Causal relationship cannot be inferred due to the crosssectional design of the current study. Conclusions: Psychological distress may be an early implication to COVID-19 pandemic. Precautionary measures, source of information and defense mechanisms used by participants may represent be contributing factors for psychological reactions.

Published Date: 2020-11-27; Received Date: 2020-10-06