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Mental Health and Coping Strategies among University Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross–Sectional Analysis from Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi

    (Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nimra Aslam Khan

    (Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, CMH Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore 54000, Pakistan)

  • Amina Siddique

    (Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Salman

    (Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan)

  • Syed Nasir Abbas Bukhari

    (Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

  • Muhammad Hammad Butt

    (Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Faiz Ullah Khan

    (Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Mohammad Khalid

    (Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia)

  • Zia Ul Mustafa

    (Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
    Department of Pharmacy Services, District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, Pakpattan 57400, Pakistan)

  • Nida Tanveer

    (Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA)

  • Naveed Ahmad

    (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

  • Muhammad Masood Ahmad

    (Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hidayat Ur Rahman

    (Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

  • Yusra Habib Khan

    (Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

This study examined psychological health and coping strategies among faculty and staff at a Saudi Arabian university. A web-based self-administered survey was used to assess probable anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and coping strategies by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and Brief-COPE scale, respectively. Of 502 participants (mean age 36.04 ± 10.32 years, male: 66.3%), 24.1% (GAD-7 ≥ 10) had probable anxiety. Anxiety score was significantly higher in females ( p < 0.001), those with a history of COVID-19 infection ( p = 0.036), and participants with less work experience ( p = 0.019). Approximately 40% of participants met the criteria of probable depression, with females ( p < 0.001) and participants with less experience having more depressive symptoms. Around one-fourth (27.7%) of study participants indicated probable PTSD (score ≥ 33), with higher symptoms in females ( p <0.001), less experienced staff ( p < 0.001), and academic staff ( p = 0.006). Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depression (r = 0.844, p < 0.001), anxiety and PTSD (r = 0.650, p < 0.001), and depression and PTSD (r = 0.676, p < 0.001). Active coping, religious/spiritual coping, and acceptance were common coping strategies, while substance use was the least adopted coping method among the study participants. This study indicated a high prevalence of probable psychological ailments among university staff.

Suggested Citation

  • Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi & Nimra Aslam Khan & Amina Siddique & Muhammad Salman & Syed Nasir Abbas Bukhari & Muhammad Hammad Butt & Faiz Ullah Khan & Mohammad Khalid & Zia Ul Mustafa & Nida Tanveer & Nav, 2023. "Mental Health and Coping Strategies among University Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross–Sectional Analysis from Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8545-:d:1154999
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Belinda Agyapong & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Lisa Burback & Yifeng Wei, 2022. "Stress, Burnout, Anxiety and Depression among Teachers: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-42, August.
    2. Carla Miguel & Luísa Castro & José Paulo Marques dos Santos & Carla Serrão & Ivone Duarte, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Medicine Lecturers’ Mental Health and Emergency Remote Teaching Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi & Naveed Ahmad & Muhammad Salman & Nida Tanveer & Shahid Shah & Muhammad Hammad Butt & Ahmed D. Alatawi & Nasser Hadal Alotaibi & Hidayat Ur Rahman & Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alzarea &, 2022. "Estimation of Psychological Impairment and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Large Regional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, November.
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