Risk of depression, anxiety, and stress among the Saudi general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Bandar Alsaif; Fahad D Algahtani; Mohamed Ali Alzain; Rafat Zrieq; Badr K Aldhmadi; Badr Alnasser; Sehar-Un-Nisa Hassan

doi:10.1186/s40359-022-01010-4

Risk of depression, anxiety, and stress among the Saudi general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

BMC Psychol. 2022 Dec 14;10(1):304. doi: 10.1186/s40359-022-01010-4.

Authors

Bandar Alsaif¹, Fahad D Algahtani¹, Mohamed Ali Alzain¹, Rafat Zrieq^{1

2}, Badr K Aldhmadi³, Badr Alnasser³, Sehar-Un-Nisa Hassan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, PO Box 2440, Ha'il, 81451, Saudi Arabia.
² Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
³ Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, PO Box 2440, Ha'il, 81451, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha'il, PO Box 2440, Ha'il, 81451, Saudi Arabia. s.nisa@uoh.edu.sa.

Abstract

Background: Promoting mental health and wellness is crucial for healthy communities. This study aims to assess the vulnerability of experiencing psychological reactions such as depression, anxiety, and stress within the general population in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 754 participants recruited from thirteen regions of Saudi Arabia. The information on background variables was obtained by using a set of close-ended questions. The DASS-21, a screening tool was used to assess the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress. Pie-chart displayed the levels of risk to experience psychological reactions. The Chi-square test and Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR) reported the risk factors associated with experiencing psychological reactions in the study population.

Results: The vulnerability to mild to extremely severe levels of stress, anxiety and depression were (36.5%), (34.9%), and (43.5%), respectively. Findings demonstrated that females were at higher risk to experience anxiety (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.11-2.18) and stress (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.10-2.10) as compared to males. Unmarried individuals had higher vulnerability for anxiety (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.04-2.44) and depression (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.02-2.37) as compared to married individuals. Those who lost their job during the pandemic had a higher risk to experience anxiety (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.10-3.74) and depression (AOR = 2.01: 95% CI 1.09-3.87) as compared to those who remain employed. Diagnosis with COVID-19 was associated with anxiety (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI 1.27-4.52) and stress (AOR = 2. 0; 95% CI 1.10-3.69). Participants with chronic medical conditions were almost twice at risk to experience stress (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.38-2.87) depression (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.53-2.99) and anxiety (AOR = 2.59; 95% CI 1.78-3.78) as compared to those without such conditions.

Conclusions: Findings imply the allocation of adequate psychological resources to prevent long-term psychological repercussions in at-risk populations such as females, unmarried individuals, those who lost their jobs, diagnosed with COVID-19 and those with chronic medical conditions.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19 pandemic; Depression; Mental health; Risk factors; Stress.

MeSH terms

Anxiety / epidemiology
Anxiety / psychology
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / epidemiology
Depression / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Pandemics*
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology

Supplementary concepts

Saudi people

Abstract

MeSH terms

Supplementary concepts

Grants and funding