COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health

Aymen Elsous; Amira Shaheen; Hedia Teraoui; Shahenaz Najjar; Suha Baloushah; Kahina Mekious; Mahmoud Radwan; Mohammad Abu Rayya

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health

Aymen Elsous, Amira Shaheen, Hedia Teraoui, Shahenaz Najjar, Suha Baloushah, Kahina Mekious, Mahmoud Radwan, Mohammad Abu Rayya

Published in International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 6)

Received: 18 November 2020 Accepted: 30 November 2020 Published: 11 December 2020

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.

Published in	International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
Page(s)	83-91
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Novel Coronavirus, Attitudes, Anxiety, Mental Health, Palestine, Tunisia

References

[1]	Abdelhafiz, A. S., Mohammed, Z., Ibrahim, M. E., Ziady, H. H., Alorabi, M., Ayyad, M., et al., 2020. Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitude of Egyptians Towards the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). J Community Health. 21, 1-10.
[2]	Al-Hanawi, M. K., Angawi, K., Alshareef, N., Qattan, A. M. N., Helmy, H. Z., Abudawood, Y., etal., 2020. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward COVID-19 Among the Public in theKingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front. Public Health. 8, 217.
[3]	AlKhaldi, M., Kaloti, R., Shella, D., Al Basuoni, A., Meghari, H, 2020. Health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in conflict settings: Policy reflections from Palestine, Global Public Health.
[4]	Alkhamees, A. A., Alrashed, S. A., Alzunaydi, A. A., Almohimeed, A. S., Aljohani, M. S, 2020. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Comprehensive Psychiatry, In press, journal pre-proof, Available online 12 July 2020.
[5]	Applegate, W. B., Ouslander, J. G, 2020. COVID-19 presents high risk to older persons. J. Am. Geriat. Soc. 68, 4, 681-681.
[6]	Azlan, A. A., Hamzah, M. R., Sern, T. J., Ayub, S. H., Mohamad, E, 2020. Public knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. PLOS ONE. 15, 5, e0233668.
[7]	Bao, Y., Sun, Y., Meng, S., Shi, J., Lu, L, 2020. 2019-nCoV epidemic: address mental health care to empower society. Lancet. 395, 10224, e37–e38.
[8]	Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., et al., 2020. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet. 395, 912-920.
[9]	Fairwear, 2020. COVID-19 impact and responses: Tunisia. Available from: https://www.fairwear.org/covid-19-dossier/worker-engagement-and-monitoring/country-specific-guidance/tunisia/ (accessed 30 June 2020).
[10]	Hayat, K. H., Rosenthal, M., Xu, S., Arshed, M., Li, P., Zhai, P., et al., 2020. View of Pakistani Residents toward Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) during a Rapid Outbreak: A Rapid Online Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17, 10, 3347.
[11]	Huang, Y., Zhao, N, 2020b. Chinese mental health burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J. Psychiatr. 51, 102052.
[12]	Huang, Y., Zhao, N, 2020a. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Res. 288, 112954.
[13]	Huynh, G., Nguyen, T. N. H., Tran, V. K., Vo, K. N., Vo, V. T., Pham, L. A, 2020. Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 among health care workers at district 2 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Asian. Pac. J. Trop. Med. 13, 6, 260-265.
[14]	Kang, L., Li, Y., Hu, S., Chen, M., Yang, C., Yang, B. X., et al., 2020. The mental health of medical workers in Wuhan, China dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus. Lancet Psychiatry. 7, 3, e14.
[15]	Kelvin, D. J., Rubino, S, 2020. Fear of the novel coronavirus. J. Infect. Dev. Ctries. 14, 1, 1-2.
[16]	Liu, X., Kakade, M., Fuller, C. J., Fan, B., Fang, Y., Kong, J., et al., 2012. Depression after exposure to stressful events: lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53, 1, 15-23.
[17]	Li, W., Yang, Y., Liu, Z., Zha, Y. J., Zhang, Q., Zhang, L., et al., 2020. Progression of Mental Health Services during the COVID-19 Outbreak in China. Int. J. Bio. Sci. 16, 10, 1732-1738.
[18]	Luo, M., Guo, L., Yu, M., Jiang, W., Wang, H, 2020. The psychological and mental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical staff and general public - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 291, 113190.
[19]	Maarefvand, M., Hosseinzadeh, S., Farmani, O., Farahan, A. S., Khubchandani, J, 2020. Coronavirus Outbreak and Stress in Iranians. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 17, 12, E4441.
[20]	Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, A, 2020. Assessing the anxiety level of Iranian general population during COVID-19 outbreak. Asian. J. Psychiatr. 51: 102076.
[21]	Naser, A. Y., Ahmash, E. Z., Al-Rousan, R., Alwafi, H., Alrawashdeh, H. M., Ghoul, I., et al., 2020. Mental health status of the general population, healthcare professionals, and universitystudents during 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak in Jordan: A cross-sectional study. Brain. Behav. 00: e01730.
[22]	Neil, G., Mary, D., Sam, G., Simon, W, 2020. Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic Br. Med. J. 368: m1211.
[23]	Olum, R., Chekwech, G., Wekha, G., Nasoszi, D. R., Bongomin, F, 2020. Coronavirus disease- 2019: Knowledge, attitude, and practices of health care workers at Makerere University mteaching hospitals, Uganda. Front Public Health. 8: 18.
[24]	Pappa, S., Ntella, V., Giannakas, T., Giannakoulis, V. G., Papoutsi, E., Katsaounou, P, 2020. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain. Behavior. Immunity.
[25]	Shi, Y., Wang, J., Yang, Y., Wang, Z., Wang, G., Hashimoto, K., et al., 2020. Knowledge and attitudes of medical staffin Chinese psychiatric hospitals regarding COVID-19. Brain. Behav. Immun. Health. 4: 100064.
[26]	Qiu, J., Shen, B., Zhao, M., Wang, Z., Xie, B., Xu, Y, 2020. A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. General Psychiatry. 33: e100213.
[27]	Roy, D., Tripathy, S., Kar, S. K., Sharma, N., Verma, S. K., Kausha, V, 2020. Study of knowledge, attitude, anxiety and perceived mental healthcare need in Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Psychiatr. 51, 102083.
[28]	Sanwang, W., Xin, W., Bin, L., Yingying, D., Ming, C, 2020. Psychological influence of Coronovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the general public, medical workers and patients with mental disorders and its countermeasures. Psychosomatics.
[29]	Serafini, G., Parmigiani, B., Amerio, A., Aguglia, A., Sher, L., Amore, M, 2020. The psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health in the general population. QJM: An Int. J. Med. hcaa. 201, 1-7.
[30]	Sønderskov, K. M., Dinesen, P. T., Santini, Z. I., Østergaard, S. D, 2020. The depressive state of Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 1-3.
[31]	UNSDG, 2020. Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health. Available from: https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/UN-Policy-Brief-COVID-19-and-mental-health.pdf (accessed 1st July 2020).
[32]	Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L, Ho, C. S., et al., 2020. Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Publ. Health. 17, 5, 1729.
[33]	Warner, M., Gustafsson, J. A., 2015. Estrogen receptor beta and liver X receptor beta: biology and therapeutic potential in CNS diseases. Mol Psychiatry. 20, 1, 18–22.
[34]	World Health Organization, 2020a. Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation. reports. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports (accessed 15 Jun 2020).
[35]	World Health Organization, 2020c. Mental health and COVID-19. Available from: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/technical-guidance/mental-health-and-covid-19 (accessed 26 June 2020).
[36]	World Health Organization, 2020d. Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf?sfvrsn=6d3578af_2 (accessed in 25 June 2020).
[37]	World Health Organization, 2020b. Novel Coronavirus (2019-ncov) Situation Report-22 Situations; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/330991/nCoVsitrep11Feb2020-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 29 June 2020).
[38]	Xiang, Y. T., Yang, Y., Li, W., Zhang, L., Zhang, Q., Cheung, T., et al., 2020. Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. Lancet Psychiatry. 7, 3, 228-229.
[39]	Xiao, C., 2020. A novel approach of consultation on 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)- related psychological and mental problems: structured letter therapy. Psychiatry Investig. 17 (2), 175–176.
[40]	Zandifar, A., Badrfam, R., 2020. Iranian mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic. Asian. J. Psychiatr. 4, 51, 101990.
[41]	Zhang, S. X., Liu, J., Jahanshahi, A., Nawaser, K., Youseﬁ, A., Li, J, et al., 2020. At the height the storm: healthcare staff’s health conditions and job satisfaction and their associated predictors during the epidemic peak of COVID-19. Brain Behav. Immun. (2020).
[42]	Zhong, B. L., Luo, W., Li, H. M., Zhang, Q. Q., Liu, X. G., Li, W. T., et al., 2020. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. Int. J. Biol Sci. 10, 1745-1752.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Aymen Elsous, Amira Shaheen, Hedia Teraoui, Shahenaz Najjar, Suha Baloushah, et al. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 5(6), 83-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Aymen Elsous; Amira Shaheen; Hedia Teraoui; Shahenaz Najjar; Suha Baloushah, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2020, 5(6), 83-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Aymen Elsous, Amira Shaheen, Hedia Teraoui, Shahenaz Najjar, Suha Baloushah, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2020;5(6):83-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11,
  author = {Aymen Elsous and Amira Shaheen and Hedia Teraoui and Shahenaz Najjar and Suha Baloushah and Kahina Mekious and Mahmoud Radwan and Mohammad Abu Rayya},
  title = {COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {6},
  pages = {83-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  abstract = {The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health
AU  - Aymen Elsous
AU  - Amira Shaheen
AU  - Hedia Teraoui
AU  - Shahenaz Najjar
AU  - Suha Baloushah
AU  - Kahina Mekious
AU  - Mahmoud Radwan
AU  - Mohammad Abu Rayya
Y1  - 2020/12/11
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SP  - 83
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
AB  - The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.
VL  - 5
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Aymen Elsous

Faculty of Medical Sciences, Israa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Amira Shaheen

Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Hedia Teraoui

Research Laboratory of Risk Management and Research in Accounting and Finance, High Business School, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
Shahenaz Najjar

Faculty of Graduate Studies, Arab American University, Ramallah, Palestine
Suha Baloushah

Reproductive Health Department, Nursing and Midwifery School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kahina Mekious

Yazouren Said Secondary School, Azazga, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria
Mahmoud Radwan

International Cooperation Directorate, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Mohammad Abu Rayya

Expert Modernity Consulting and Community Development, Gaza Strip, Palestine

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Aymen Elsous, Amira Shaheen, Hedia Teraoui, Shahenaz Najjar, Suha Baloushah, et al. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 5(6), 83-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Aymen Elsous; Amira Shaheen; Hedia Teraoui; Shahenaz Najjar; Suha Baloushah, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2020, 5(6), 83-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Aymen Elsous, Amira Shaheen, Hedia Teraoui, Shahenaz Najjar, Suha Baloushah, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2020;5(6):83-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11,
  author = {Aymen Elsous and Amira Shaheen and Hedia Teraoui and Shahenaz Najjar and Suha Baloushah and Kahina Mekious and Mahmoud Radwan and Mohammad Abu Rayya},
  title = {COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {6},
  pages = {83-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20200506.11},
  abstract = {The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Population Mental Health
AU  - Aymen Elsous
AU  - Amira Shaheen
AU  - Hedia Teraoui
AU  - Shahenaz Najjar
AU  - Suha Baloushah
AU  - Kahina Mekious
AU  - Mahmoud Radwan
AU  - Mohammad Abu Rayya
Y1  - 2020/12/11
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SP  - 83
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20200506.11
AB  - The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized as pandemic and posed a risk on populations' mental health status. This study aimed to examine anxiety experience, attitudes and perceived mental health care needs of Arabs populations under COVID-19 pandemic. Online cross-sectional study was employed to collect data from Palestinians and Tunisians using a self-reported questionnaire and following non-probability snow ball sampling approach. Descriptive and univariate analyses were applied. Eight hundred fifteen subjects responded, of which 534 from Palestine and 281 from Tunisia and mean age (SD) was 34.07 (11.36) and 27.94 (9.30), respectively. Palestinians and Tunisians showed positive attitudes toward COVID-19 with mean (SD) 4.28 (.47) and 4.17 (.45), respectively. Mean (SD) anxiety score was 2.94 (.67) and 3.30 (.69) in participants from Palestine and Tunisia, respectively and severe anxiety was reported in 6.7% and 16% among Palestinians and Tunisians, respectively. Both Palestinians and Tunisians agreed on the importance of seeking and receiving aid from mental health professionals to combat COVID-19. Attitudes improved with increased education and females showed to have better attitudes and much anxiety than males. Addressing mental health issues is necessary for population under the pandemic of COVID-19 to minimize anxiety level and ensure better mental health status.
VL  - 5
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download