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COVID-19: Psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across the United Arab Emirates

Author

Listed:
  • Rania Al Dweik
  • Muhammad Aziz Rahman
  • Fathima Mohammed Ahamed
  • Heba Ramada
  • Yousef Al Sheble
  • Sondos ElTaher
  • Wendy Cross
  • Deena Elsori

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the psychosocial well-being of the United Arab Emirates [UAE] population like other communities internationally. Objectives: We aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping amongst community members across the UAE. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey across the UAE during November 2020. Adults aged ≥18 years, living in the UAE who were able to respond to an online questionnaire in English or Arabic were considered eligible to participate in the study. We used standard validated tools to measure psychological distress, fear and coping. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10] was used to assess psychological distress, Fear of COVID-19 Scale [FCV-19S] was used to assess the level of fear, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale [BRCS] was used to assess the coping strategies. Results: A total of 417 individuals participated in this study with a mean age of 29 [± 10.7] years. More than half of the participants experienced high to very high levels of psychological distress [55%] and a quarter experienced high levels of fear of COVID-19 [23.3%] with almost a third of them [36.2%] having low resilient coping. About 37.4% of the participants had work-related mental health impacts and 32.4% were perceived to have moderate to a great deal of distress due to a change of employment status during the pandemic. One in ten participants [9.4%] reported increased smoking. Increased smoking [AOR 8.66, 95% CIs 1.08–69.1,], increased alcohol drinking [AOR 2.39, 95% CIs 1.05–5.47] and higher levels of fear of COVID-19 [AOR 2.93, 95% CIs 1.83–4.67] were associated with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress. Being female [AOR 1.82, p = 0.030], having a pre-existing mental health condition [AOR 9.88, 95% p = 0.027], engaging in high-risk behaviors such as increased smoking [AOR 21.14, p = 0.003], increased alcohol drinking [AOR 1.48, p = 0.359] in the previous four weeks, and higher levels of fear of COVID-19 [AOR 4.18, p

Suggested Citation

  • Rania Al Dweik & Muhammad Aziz Rahman & Fathima Mohammed Ahamed & Heba Ramada & Yousef Al Sheble & Sondos ElTaher & Wendy Cross & Deena Elsori, 2023. "COVID-19: Psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across the United Arab Emirates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0282479
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282479
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