Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians
Iran has faced one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the world, and no studies to date have examined COVID-19-related stress in the general Iranian population. In this first population-based study, a web-based survey was conducted during the peak of the outbreak to assess stress and its correlates...
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doaj-2e51503d98754cf5939e13bdd372e8542020-11-25T03:10:14ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012020-06-01174441444110.3390/ijerph17124441Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in IraniansMasoomeh Maarefvand0Samaneh Hosseinzadeh1Ozra Farmani2Atefeh Safarabadi Farahani3Jagdish Khubchandani4Department of Social Work, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran 1985713834, IranDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran 1985713834, IranIranian Scientific Association of Social Work, Tehran 1985713834, IranIranian Scientific Association of Social Work, Tehran 1985713834, IranDepartment of Nutrition and Health Science, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USAIran has faced one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the world, and no studies to date have examined COVID-19-related stress in the general Iranian population. In this first population-based study, a web-based survey was conducted during the peak of the outbreak to assess stress and its correlates in the Iranian population. A 54-item, valid, and reliable questionnaire, including items on demographic characteristics and past medical history, stress levels, awareness about signs and symptoms of COVID-19, knowledge about at-risk groups and prevention methods, knowledge about transmission methods, trust in sources of information, and availability of facemasks and sanitizers, was deployed via social and mass media networks. A total of 3787 Iranians participated in the study where the majority of the participants were females (67.4%), employed (56.1%), from developed provinces (81.6%), without chronic diseases (66.6%), and with ≥13 years of formal education (87.9%). The mean age of study participants was 34.9 years (range = 12–73), and the average stress score was 3.33 (SD = ±1.02). Stress score was significantly higher for females, those who were 30–39 years old, housewives, those with chronic diseases, individuals who were aware that there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, those who could not get facemasks or sanitizers, and individuals with higher knowledge about at-risk groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was a significant correlation of stress scores with knowledge about prevention methods for COVID-19 (r = 0.21, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and trust in sources of information about COVID-19 (r = −0.18, <i>p</i> = 0.01). All of the predictors, except knowledge of two important at-risk groups and education, had a significant effect on stress scores based on a multivariate regression model. The COVID-19 outbreak could increase stress among all population groups, with certain groups at higher risk. In the high-risk groups and based on experience with previous pandemics, interventions are needed to prevent long-term psychological effects. Professional support and family-centered programs should be a part of pandemic mitigation-related policymaking and public health practices.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4441coronaviruspandemicstressIranoutbreak |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Masoomeh Maarefvand Samaneh Hosseinzadeh Ozra Farmani Atefeh Safarabadi Farahani Jagdish Khubchandani |
spellingShingle |
Masoomeh Maarefvand Samaneh Hosseinzadeh Ozra Farmani Atefeh Safarabadi Farahani Jagdish Khubchandani Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health coronavirus pandemic stress Iran outbreak |
author_facet |
Masoomeh Maarefvand Samaneh Hosseinzadeh Ozra Farmani Atefeh Safarabadi Farahani Jagdish Khubchandani |
author_sort |
Masoomeh Maarefvand |
title |
Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians |
title_short |
Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians |
title_full |
Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians |
title_fullStr |
Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians |
title_full_unstemmed |
Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians |
title_sort |
coronavirus outbreak and stress in iranians |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Iran has faced one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the world, and no studies to date have examined COVID-19-related stress in the general Iranian population. In this first population-based study, a web-based survey was conducted during the peak of the outbreak to assess stress and its correlates in the Iranian population. A 54-item, valid, and reliable questionnaire, including items on demographic characteristics and past medical history, stress levels, awareness about signs and symptoms of COVID-19, knowledge about at-risk groups and prevention methods, knowledge about transmission methods, trust in sources of information, and availability of facemasks and sanitizers, was deployed via social and mass media networks. A total of 3787 Iranians participated in the study where the majority of the participants were females (67.4%), employed (56.1%), from developed provinces (81.6%), without chronic diseases (66.6%), and with ≥13 years of formal education (87.9%). The mean age of study participants was 34.9 years (range = 12–73), and the average stress score was 3.33 (SD = ±1.02). Stress score was significantly higher for females, those who were 30–39 years old, housewives, those with chronic diseases, individuals who were aware that there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, those who could not get facemasks or sanitizers, and individuals with higher knowledge about at-risk groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was a significant correlation of stress scores with knowledge about prevention methods for COVID-19 (r = 0.21, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and trust in sources of information about COVID-19 (r = −0.18, <i>p</i> = 0.01). All of the predictors, except knowledge of two important at-risk groups and education, had a significant effect on stress scores based on a multivariate regression model. The COVID-19 outbreak could increase stress among all population groups, with certain groups at higher risk. In the high-risk groups and based on experience with previous pandemics, interventions are needed to prevent long-term psychological effects. Professional support and family-centered programs should be a part of pandemic mitigation-related policymaking and public health practices. |
topic |
coronavirus pandemic stress Iran outbreak |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4441 |
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