Abstract
BackgroundThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered fear and distress among the public, thus potentiating the incidence rate of anxiety and depression. This study aims to investigate the psychological effect of quarantine on persons living in Morocco when the first COVID-19 cases were identified. The associations between anxiety, depression symptoms, and their predictors (sociodemographics, fatigue, and religious coping) were examined.MethodsA web-based cross-sectional survey, with a total of 1435 participants (≥18 years) recruited anonymously, was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (from 3 to 30 April 2020). A structured questionnaire was used to assess psychosocial factors, COVID-19 epidemic-related factors, and religious coping. Religious coping, fatigue, and depression, and anxiety were measured by Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. A generalized linear model (logistic regression) was used to determine the predictive factors of depression and anxiety.ResultsThe prevalence of anxiety and depression was 43.0% (n = 621) and 53.0% (n = 766), respectively. Both were associated with female gender, household income decline, tracking COVID-19 news, and fear to contract COVID-19 (aOR = 1.36 to 2.85). Additionally, 32.0% (n = 453) and 26.0% (n = 372) reported severe physical fatigue, and mental fatigue, respectively. Both latter factors were significantly and positively associated with depression as well as with anxiety. Depressive and anxious patients used more negative religious coping, while positive religious coping was slightly associated with depression.ConclusionIn this online survey of the general population in Morocco, anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic and psychosocial factors, such as female gender, income decline, infection fears, massive COVID-19 news exposure, negative religious coping, and fatigue were associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms. Psychosocial and financial support should be provided to the quarantined population.
Highlights
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered fear and distress among the public, potentiating the incidence rate of anxiety and depression
Most participants expressed a high level of compliance with quarantine and protective measures (n = 1213, 85.0%; and n = 979, 68.0% respectively), whereas 32.0% (n = 454) of participants expressed a high level of fear to contract COVID-19
Overall, this study is one among few studies that have assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, fatigue, and religious coping among the Moroccan general population
Summary
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered fear and distress among the public, potentiating the incidence rate of anxiety and depression. This study aims to investigate the psychological effect of quarantine on persons living in Morocco when the first COVID-19 cases were identified. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in China. On March 2nd, 2020, the first coronavirus case was officially confirmed in Morocco [4]. Up to April 10th 2021, 500,948 have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive, of which 8885 were fatal [5]. For the sake of control and prevention, have implemented urgently a package of restrictive measures, such as isolation of suspected and diagnosed cases, cancelling parties, extending holidays, closing schools, and complying with stay-athome orders [6]
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