The Impact of Knowledge, Anxiety and Fear on Psychological Distress during COVID-19 among Residents of the United Arab Emirates.
Am J Health Behav
; 45(4): 771-784, 2021 07 26.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1339701
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
COVID-19 has become a global concern, affecting both physical and mental health. In this study, we measured knowledge, fear, anxiety, and psychological distress related to COVID-19 among residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods:
A total of 1053 adult participants completed a Web-based cross-sectional survey.Results:
Our data revealed 75.7% of the sample to be knowledgeable about COVID-19, 15.3% had experienced anxiety and 50.4%, psychological distress about COVID-19. Being knowledgeable about COVID-19 was significantly associated with having spent one to 2 hours reading about COVID-19. There was also an association between being knowledgeable about COVID-19 and low levels of anxiety and psychological distress. Psychological distress was associated with a history of mental illness (76.2%), anxiety (85.1%), and fear of COVID-19 (21±6.6). Age, history of mental illness (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.35-5.82, p < .001), and COVID-19 anxiety (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.48-4.13, p < .001) and fear (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.14-1.20, p < .001) were risk factors for psychological distress.Conclusion:
Our results showed significant psychological distress in the UAE population. Providing pre-recorded workshops and continuous telemedicine on biopsychosocial perspectives of COVID-19 may enhance the COVID-19 insight and reduce the COVID-19 anxiety and psychological distress.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Anxiety
/
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
/
Fear
/
Psychological Distress
/
COVID-19
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Health Behav
Journal subject:
Behavioral Sciences
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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