Perceived Stress of Quarantine and Isolation During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey

• Main Authors: TMGH-Global COVID-19 Collaborative, Nguyen Tien Huy, Nguyen Tran Minh Duc, Shamael Thabit Mohammed Alhady, Luu Ngoc Mai, Amr K. Hassan, Tran Van Giang, Le Van Truong, Rohanti Ravikulan, Akshay Raut, Farouq Muhammad Dayyab, Shyam Prakash Durme, Vu Thi Thu Trang, Le Quang Loc, Pham Ngoc Thach
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychiatry
• Subjects: perceived stress status; COVID-19; mental health; quarantine; survey
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.656664/full

Aims: Understanding of the perceived stress and coping strategies adopted by people is important for contemplating the consequences of a pandemic on mental health of people globally. In this study, we intended to assess the perceived stress status under quarantine/isolation globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This is a multicentre, multinational cross-sectional study that recruited isolated/quarantined individuals suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 to assess the psychological impact of the quarantine/isolation experience by answering a survey distributed online.Results: The study was conducted across 63 participating countries, gaining 1,871 valid responses. There was a higher proportion of female participants in the Moderate to High Perceived Stress Scores (MH-PSS) group compared to the Low Perceived Stress Score group (66.0 vs. 52.0%) and a higher proportion of individuals whose marital status was single had MH-PSS (57.1%). Also, individual's religion (Christian, Hindu, and Muslim), no formal education level, being exposed to a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient, being forced to be quarantined/isolated, uncomfortable feeling during quarantine period may significantly increase the risk of MH-PSS (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Many factors can predict stress in COVID-19 pandemic including female sex, being single, religion, no formal education, involuntary quarantine, location and reason of quarantine/isolation, and place of exposure.