The magnitude of COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and depression associated with intense mass media coverage in Saudi Arabia

Yosef Mohamed-Azzam Zakout; Fayez Saud Alreshidi; Ruba Mustafa Elsaid; Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed; Yosef Mohamed-Azzam Zakout; Fayez Saud Alreshidi; Ruba Mustafa Elsaid; Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2020052

AIMS Public Health

2020, Volume 7, Issue 3: 664-678. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2020052

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Research article Special Issues

The magnitude of COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and depression associated with intense mass media coverage in Saudi Arabia

1.
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3.
Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Received: 30 June 2020 Accepted: 28 August 2020 Published: 01 September 2020

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in catastrophic consequences in many aspects of life; including negative psychological effects. We aimed to assess the mental health status of a group of Saudi population during this pandemic. Also, we aimed to assess the effect of the intensive media coverage of the pandemic news on mental health status. A questionnaire was distributed online to test depression, anxiety, and stress (using the DASS-21 scale) and their relationship to certain variables. A total of 215 respondents were included. Higher mental health prevalence rates were reported in non-Saudi participants compared to Saudi ones (i.e., 50.74% vs. 30.40%; 34.23% vs. 13.51% and 59.70% vs. 27.70%; for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively). About 55.8% of the participants felt the extensive coverage in the media of COVID-19 news, which caused higher mental sufferings. Higher mental health prevalence rates were reported in females compared to males participants (i.e., 56.97% vs. 23.25%; 30.23% vs. 13.17% and 54.65% vs. 26.35%; for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively). Reasonable following of the COVID-19 news; and less exposure to the pandemic information could help in reducing the mental health issues related to the ongoing pandemic. Special care and attention should be paid to females and younger people who seem to be particularly affected during the era of COVID-19.
- anxiety,
- COVID-19,
- depression,
- media,
- Saudi Arabia,
- stress
Citation: Yosef Mohamed-Azzam Zakout, Fayez Saud Alreshidi, Ruba Mustafa Elsaid, Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed. The magnitude of COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and depression associated with intense mass media coverage in Saudi Arabia[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2020, 7(3): 664-678. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2020052

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Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in catastrophic consequences in many aspects of life; including negative psychological effects. We aimed to assess the mental health status of a group of Saudi population during this pandemic. Also, we aimed to assess the effect of the intensive media coverage of the pandemic news on mental health status. A questionnaire was distributed online to test depression, anxiety, and stress (using the DASS-21 scale) and their relationship to certain variables. A total of 215 respondents were included. Higher mental health prevalence rates were reported in non-Saudi participants compared to Saudi ones (i.e., 50.74% vs. 30.40%; 34.23% vs. 13.51% and 59.70% vs. 27.70%; for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively). About 55.8% of the participants felt the extensive coverage in the media of COVID-19 news, which caused higher mental sufferings. Higher mental health prevalence rates were reported in females compared to males participants (i.e., 56.97% vs. 23.25%; 30.23% vs. 13.17% and 54.65% vs. 26.35%; for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively). Reasonable following of the COVID-19 news; and less exposure to the pandemic information could help in reducing the mental health issues related to the ongoing pandemic. Special care and attention should be paid to females and younger people who seem to be particularly affected during the era of COVID-19.

Abbreviation COVID-19: Coronavirus Disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; DASS-21: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; KSA: Kingdome of Saudi Arabia;
Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by Scientific Research Deanship at the University of Ha'il—Saudi Arabia through project number COVID-1912.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest in this paper.

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