Cultural Responses to Covid-19 Pandemic: Religions, Illness Perception, and Perceived Stress.

Many psychological researchers have proven the deteriorating effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on public mental health. In Malaysia, various Covid-19 clusters were associated with religious gatherings. From a cultural psychology perspective, how ethno-religious groups respond to this crisis originating from their unique rationality and ecological systems. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the illness perceptions of major religious groups (Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist) in Malaysia toward the Covid-19 pandemic, their stress levels, and the relationship between illness perception, stress, and forms of religious expression during the lockdown period. Through an online survey method, 608 Malaysian religious believers were included in this mixed-method empirical study, which adapted standardized instruments [Duke University Religion Index (DUREL), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)]. Statistical analysis showed that all three groups reported moderate levels of stress in average without any significant difference after controlling for age. Both internal and external forms of religious expression had a significant negative relationship with stress levels. Personal control, comprehension, and emotions domains of illness perception accounted for a significant variance in the stress level. Furthermore, religious expression significantly moderated the relationship between some illness perception domains and stress. Qualitative coding revealed that most participants perceived human behavior and attitudes, sociopolitical, and sociological factors as causal factors to the current pandemic. These findings confirmed the relationship between religious expression, illness belief, and stress regulation during the pandemic lockdown. Incidental findings of age as a potential protective factor for Malaysian believers warrants further study. In the conclusion, implications for public health policymakers and religious communities on pandemic prevention and well-being promotion were discussed.

Depression Outcome Expectancy in Primary Care in Singapore: Symptom Severity as a Mediating Determinant.

BACKGROUND: Depression has been identified as the most common mental illness in Singapore. To address this growing concern, the current study focused on the population within the primary care setting since depression has been demonstrated to be highly prevalent in these patients. This study examined the possible predictors of outcome expectancy based on illness perception and depression severity. METHODS: One hundred and one adult patients with depressive symptoms in primary care were recruited for a cross-sectional study. Positive outcome expectancy was measured using the Depression Change Expectancy Scale, and illness perception was measured using the Illness Perception Questionnaire Mental Health. Depression severity was derived from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores extracted from the participants' medical records. Regression and mediation analyses were applied to explore possible predictors of positive outcome expectancy. RESULTS: Regression analysis demonstrated that symptom severity, and specific dimensions under illness perception (i.e., perception of chronicity, perception of personal control, and perception of treatment control) were the most significant predictors of positive outcome expectancy. Mediation analysis found that symptom severity partially mediated the relationship between perception of chronicity and positive outcome expectancy. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacotherapy, interventions from allied health professionals, and psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g., strategies from positive psychology, solution-focused therapy, and strengths-based cognitive behavioral therapy) that aim to directly alleviate depressive symptoms as well as improve the perceptions of chronicity, personal control, and treatment control could potentially enhance treatment benefits in primary care patients with depression.

Illness Perception of Anxiety Patients in Primary Care in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The majority of people with anxiety tend to seek help in primary care. Patients' illness perception regarding their own anxiety can influence the assessment, treatment processes, and outcomes. This cross-sectional study explored possible relationships between patients' illness perception of their anxiety and the severity of their anxiety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five patients with anxiety were recruited at two primary care clinics in Singapore. Their responses to the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and illness perception questionnaire mental health (IPQ-MH) were examined with Spearman's rho correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Four illness perception subscales, i.e., consequences (rs = 0.23), personal control (rs = -0.27), coherence (rs = -0.22), and biological (rs = 0.34) significantly correlated to anxiety (P < 0.05). A multiple regression analysis identified that attribution to biological factors (ß = 0.348, P =0.001) and attribution to personal control (ß = -0.262, P =0.008) were significantly associated with anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions for anxiety reduction in primary care can be enhanced with methods that promote (1) patients' awareness of the reasons for their anxiety beyond mostly bodily ones to include psychosocial ones and (2) patients' confidence in their own capacity to influence their recovery.