COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate depression, stress, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours in the Lebanese population in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2020 on 386 participants randomly recruited from Lebanese general population. Results Following the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon compared to was not significantly associated with higher stress, higher depression, lower obsessive-compulsive traits, higher anxiety. Moreover, higher compulsion (Beta = 0.092), having a university level of education (Beta = 0.573), intermediate income (Beta = 1.889), following the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon all of the time (Beta = 7.064), most of the time (Beta = 5.592), sometimes (Beta = 4.235) and little of the time (Beta = 7.676) were significantly associated with a higher hygienic prevention practices score. Higher age (Beta = –0.051), being a male (Beta = –1.432), higher depression (Beta = –0.083) and practicing religion some of the time (Beta = –0.826) were significantly associated with a lower hygienic prevention practices score. Conclusion This study found a strong interrelationship between psychological stress, depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive traits during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified the most vulnerable sub-groups in the Lebanese population. Additional measures should be deployed by health authorities in Lebanon and worldwide to face the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Key points Following the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon compared to not was significantly associated with higher stress, higher depression, lower obsessive-compulsive disorder, higher anxiety. Higher compulsion, having a university level of education, following the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon were significantly associated with a higher hygienic prevention practices score. Higher depression, male gender, and practicing religion some of the time were significantly associated with a lower hygienic prevention practices score. Additional measures should be deployed by health authorities in Lebanon and worldwide to face the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.