The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The psychosocial impact of previous infectious disease outbreaks in adults has been well documented, however, there is limited information on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) community. The aim of this study...
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doaj-a38414cd3d7a4f9c8b0df6754beecc8b2021-05-09T11:42:55ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2021-05-0121111810.1186/s12888-021-03213-2The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional studyBasema Saddik0Amal Hussein1Ammar Albanna2Iffat Elbarazi3Arwa Al-Shujairi4Mohamad-Hani Temsah5Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari6Emmanuel Stip7Qutayba Hamid8Rabih Halwani9Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of SharjahChild and Adolescent Mental Health Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty HospitalInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversitySharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of SharjahDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud UniversitySharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of SharjahDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversitySharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of SharjahSharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of SharjahAbstract Background The psychosocial impact of previous infectious disease outbreaks in adults has been well documented, however, there is limited information on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) community. The aim of this study was to explore anxiety levels among adults and children in the UAE and to identify potential risk and protective factors for well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using a web-based cross-sectional survey we collected data from 2200 self-selected, assessed volunteers and their children. Demographic information, knowledge and beliefs about COVID-19, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using the (GAD-7) scale, emotional problems in children using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), worry and fear about COVID-19, coping mechanisms and general health information were collected. Descriptive analysis was carried out to summarize demographic and participant characteristics, Chi-square analysis to explore associations between categorical variables and anxiety levels and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of anxiety levels in adults and emotional problems in children. Results The overall prevalence of GAD in the general population was 71% with younger people (59.8%) and females (51.7%) reporting highest levels of anxiety. Parents who were teachers reported the highest percentage of emotional problems in children (26.7%). Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for GAD-7 scores showed that being female, high levels of worry associated with COVID-19, intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and smoking were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for SDQ showed that higher emotional problems were reported for children in lower and higher secondary education, and parents who had severe anxiety were seven times more likely to report emotional problems in their children. Conclusions This study reports the psychological impact of COVID-19 among adults and children in the UAE and highlights the significant association between parental and child anxiety. Findings suggest the urgency for policy makers to develop effective screening and coping strategies for parents and especially children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03213-2COVID-19AnxietyChildrenAdultUnited Arab Emirates |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Basema Saddik Amal Hussein Ammar Albanna Iffat Elbarazi Arwa Al-Shujairi Mohamad-Hani Temsah Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari Emmanuel Stip Qutayba Hamid Rabih Halwani |
spellingShingle |
Basema Saddik Amal Hussein Ammar Albanna Iffat Elbarazi Arwa Al-Shujairi Mohamad-Hani Temsah Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari Emmanuel Stip Qutayba Hamid Rabih Halwani The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study BMC Psychiatry COVID-19 Anxiety Children Adult United Arab Emirates |
author_facet |
Basema Saddik Amal Hussein Ammar Albanna Iffat Elbarazi Arwa Al-Shujairi Mohamad-Hani Temsah Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari Emmanuel Stip Qutayba Hamid Rabih Halwani |
author_sort |
Basema Saddik |
title |
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
title_short |
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
title_full |
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
title_fullStr |
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
title_full_unstemmed |
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
title_sort |
psychological impact of the covid-19 pandemic on adults and children in the united arab emirates: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Psychiatry |
issn |
1471-244X |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The psychosocial impact of previous infectious disease outbreaks in adults has been well documented, however, there is limited information on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) community. The aim of this study was to explore anxiety levels among adults and children in the UAE and to identify potential risk and protective factors for well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using a web-based cross-sectional survey we collected data from 2200 self-selected, assessed volunteers and their children. Demographic information, knowledge and beliefs about COVID-19, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using the (GAD-7) scale, emotional problems in children using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), worry and fear about COVID-19, coping mechanisms and general health information were collected. Descriptive analysis was carried out to summarize demographic and participant characteristics, Chi-square analysis to explore associations between categorical variables and anxiety levels and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of anxiety levels in adults and emotional problems in children. Results The overall prevalence of GAD in the general population was 71% with younger people (59.8%) and females (51.7%) reporting highest levels of anxiety. Parents who were teachers reported the highest percentage of emotional problems in children (26.7%). Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for GAD-7 scores showed that being female, high levels of worry associated with COVID-19, intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and smoking were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for SDQ showed that higher emotional problems were reported for children in lower and higher secondary education, and parents who had severe anxiety were seven times more likely to report emotional problems in their children. Conclusions This study reports the psychological impact of COVID-19 among adults and children in the UAE and highlights the significant association between parental and child anxiety. Findings suggest the urgency for policy makers to develop effective screening and coping strategies for parents and especially children. |
topic |
COVID-19 Anxiety Children Adult United Arab Emirates |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03213-2 |
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