Background/Objective This study examined the role of different psychological coping mechanisms in mental and physical health during the initial phases of the COVID-19 crisis with an emphasis on meaning-centered coping. Method A total of 11,227 people from 30 countries across all continents participated in the study and completed measures of psychological distress (depression, stress, and anxiety), loneliness, well-being, and physical health, together with measures of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, and a measure called the Meaning-centered Coping Scale (MCCS) that was developed in the present study. Validation analyses of the MCCS were performed in all countries, and data were assessed by multilevel modeling (MLM). Results The MCCS showed a robust one-factor structure in 30 countries with good test-retest, concurrent and divergent validity results. MLM analyses showed mixed results regarding emotion and problem-focused coping strategies. However, the MCCS was the strongest positive predictor of physical and mental health among all coping strategies, independently of demographic characteristics and country-level variables. Conclusions The findings suggest that the MCCS is a valid measure to assess meaning-centered coping. The results also call for policies promoting effective coping to mitigate collective suffering during the pandemic.

No abstract

Background and Objective:Mental health problems not only affect the common person but also medical health practitioners (MHPs) dealing with health care issues of patients. The current study aimed to explore the triadic (three dimensional) comorbidity of mental health problems and its association with three forms of psychological burnout (person, client and work related).Methods:This correlational study was conducted at three hospitals of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi (Holy Family Hospital=57, District Headquarter Hospital=60, and Benazir Bhutto Hospital=40) from June 2018 to September 2018. The sample comprised of 157 medical health practitioners (medical doctors) serving in general ward (n=64), emergency (n=60) and OPD (n=33) sections. The participants were administered self-report measures of DASS-21 and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.Results:Triadic comorbidity of depression, anxiety and stress ranged from 9% to 26% for excessive severe and normal levels respectively. Comorbidity of work related and personal related burnout at severe level was found 8%. Further, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were strongly associated with psychological burnout at .0001 significance level.Conclusion:MHPs demonstrated excessive severe comorbidity of depression, anxiety and stress simultaneously. Along with this triadic comorbidity, the presence of severe psychological burnout is alarming and affecting overall efficiency and mental health of doctors which need to be identified, screened out and managed timely and managed properly.

The psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt by people around the world. Persistent and disturbed thinking about the disease appears to be contributing to this mental health concern. Although the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) has been shown to be a reliable and valid instrument in the U.S., it has not been examined with in Pakistan. The current study addressed this problem by examining the validity of an Urdu translated version of the OCS using online survey data from 240 university students and teachers in Pakistan. The results showed that the OCS exhibited factorial validity, as well as measurement invariance for gender. However, the OCS also showed limited evidence of construct validity in terms of showing weak positive correlations with the total scale and social dysfunction and self-confidence subscales of the General Heath Questionnaire and no correlation with the depression and anxiety subscale (GHQ-12). These findings suggest that further research is necessary before the Urdu version of the OCS is widely adopted in Pakistan.

No abstract