COVID-19 and mental health: a multi-country study—the effects of lockdown on the mental health of young adults

COVID-19 and mental health: a multi-country study—the effects of lockdown on the mental health of young adults

Background Lockdown conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the mental health of people, especially the youth. This study examined the effect of lockdown on mental health of Egypt, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines and assessed the coping strategies in practice by youth. Resu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Middle East current psychiatry (Cairo) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
Main Authors: Shaikh, Areeba, Peprah, Ellen, Mohamed, Rawan Hamed, Asghar, Abeeha, Andharia, Noor Viresh, Lajot, Niel Anthony, Qureshi, Muhmmad Fazal Hussain
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 09-08-2021
Springer Nature B.V
SpringerOpen
Subjects:
Anxiety
Coping strategies
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic
Depression
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mental depression
Pandemics
Psychiatry
Social support
Stress
Young adults
Ghana
Pakistan
Philippines
Egypt
India
Coping strategies
COVID-19 pandemic
Depression
Anxiety
Young adults
Stress
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Summary:Background Lockdown conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the mental health of people, especially the youth. This study examined the effect of lockdown on mental health of Egypt, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines and assessed the coping strategies in practice by youth. Results Philippines had the highest mean score in all three domains followed by Egypt, Pakistan, India, and then Ghana. There was a significant association of gender with stress, educational status with depression, and anxiety with stress. Students were associated with anxiety, and the history of close friends/family infected with COVID-19 was found to be associated with depression and stress scores. The most common coping strategy for the Philippines was self-destruction; for Pakistan was religion; and for Egypt, India, and Ghana was acceptance. Using linear regression model, the highest scores observed in all three domains were associated with avoidant coping. Conclusions The findings of the study confirm that COVID-19 lockdown has affected the mental health of young adults. In particular, the presence of negative coping strategies used by the youth tends to be an indicator of increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression and it should be considered when planning interventions within this population.
ISSN:2090-5416
2090-5408
2090-5416
DOI:10.1186/s43045-021-00116-6