Prevalence and predictors of psychological response during immediate COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim COVID‐19 pandemic has created a serious psychological impact worldwide since it has been declared. This study aims to investigate the level of psychological impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the Turkish population and to determine related factors. Methods The study was carried out by an online questionnaire using the virtual snowball sampling method. The sociodemographic data were collected on the following subjects: participants’ experience on any signs of infection within the last month, the history of COVID‐19 contact‐treatment‐quarantine, level of compliance with precautionary measures, the sources of information and level of knowledge about the pandemic process and their belief levels on the knowledge they acquire. Besides, the questions that take place in the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21), and Impact of Events Scale‐Revised (IES‐R) were asked to participants. Results Of the 3549 participants, anxiety was found in 15.8%, depression in 22.6%, stress in 12.9%, and psychological trauma in 20.29% based on moderate and above levels. Female gender, young age, higher education level, being single, high monthly income, presence of psychiatric illness, a large number of people living together, having any signs of infection, and contact history with COVID‐19 infected person or contaminated object are identified as risk factors that may increase psychological impact. Compliance with the rules was found to reduce the risk of psychological response. Conclusions The risk factors for the psychological impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and acknowledging these factors can help to formulate the interventions to reduce the stress levels of the population.

Psychiatric distress in family caregivers of patients with COVID-19

“…Our study indicated that being younger and married, having a child and health-related occupation, not being infected with COVID-19, not taking exercise, having poor night 's sleep, taking anti-stress medications, having comorbidity and high monthly salary led to a high level of mental disorder in caregivers. As in line with our study, younger FCs, with high monthly income, in the anti-stress treatment regimen, were more likely to have psychiatric disorders ( Cansel et al, 2021 ). However, contrary to the findings of our study,…”

“…As in line with our study, younger FCs, with high monthly income, in the anti-stress treatment regimen, were more likely to have psychiatric disorders (Cansel et al, 2021). However, contrary to the findings of our study, married or having a child (Elbay et al, 2020), being single or infected by COVID-19 (Cansel et al, 2021) have a direct correlation with high DAS disorder. Our findings did not show a significant relationship between gender and psychiatric disorder and males non-significantly had lower mean scores of DAS and FCV than females, which is consistent with the findings of a recent study (Paz et al, 2020).…”

“…Our findings did not show a significant relationship between gender and psychiatric disorder and males non-significantly had lower mean scores of DAS and FCV than females, which is consistent with the findings of a recent study ( Paz et al, 2020 ). There were contrary findings related to gender and psychiatric disorder, for example in one study females had a lower psychiatric disorder ( Cansel et al, 2021 ), while in other studies, there were no significant relationships between the DAS and FCV scores with gender(Mertens, Gerritsen, Duijndam, Salemink, & Engelhard, 2020; Pezirkianidis et al, 2018 ). Also, There was no difference between smokers and non-smokers in terms of DAS score which is similar to another study ( Cansel et al, 2021 ).…”

“…There were contrary findings related to gender and psychiatric disorder, for example in one study females had a lower psychiatric disorder ( Cansel et al, 2021 ), while in other studies, there were no significant relationships between the DAS and FCV scores with gender(Mertens, Gerritsen, Duijndam, Salemink, & Engelhard, 2020; Pezirkianidis et al, 2018 ). Also, There was no difference between smokers and non-smokers in terms of DAS score which is similar to another study ( Cansel et al, 2021 ).…”

“…married or having a child ( Elbay et al, 2020 ), being single or infected by COVID-19 ( Cansel et al, 2021 ) have a direct correlation with high DAS disorder. Our findings did not show a significant relationship between gender and psychiatric disorder and males non-significantly had lower mean scores of DAS and FCV than females, which is consistent with the findings of a recent study ( Paz et al, 2020 ).…”