Abstract
BackgroundThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with several adverse health outcomes. However, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have examined its deleterious consequences on mental health. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and changes in boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.MethodsData for this study were drawn from an online survey of 811 participants that collected retrospective information on mental health measures including symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, boredom, and well-being. Additional data were collected on COVID-19 related measures, biosocial (e.g. age and sex) and sociocultural factors (e.g., education, occupation, marital status). Following descriptive and psychometric evaluation of measures used, multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationships between predictor variables and boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being scores during the pandemic. Second, we assessed the effect of anxiety on psychological well-being. Next, we assessed predictors of the changes in boredom, anxiety, and well-being.ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, 63.5% reported better well-being, 11.6% symptoms of anxiety, and 29.6% symptoms of boredom. Comparing experiences before and during the pandemic, there was an increase in boredom and anxiety symptomatology, and a decrease in well-being mean scores. The adjusted model shows participants with existing medical conditions had higher scores on boredom (ß = 1.76, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = 1.83, p < .01). In a separate model, anxiety scores before the pandemic (ß = -0.25, p < .01) and having prior medical conditions (ß = -1.53, p < .001) were associated with decreased psychological well-being scores during the pandemic. In the change model, having a prior medical condition was associated with an increasing change in boredom, anxiety, and well-being. Older age was associated with decreasing changes in boredom and well-being scores.ConclusionsThis study is the first in Ghana to provide evidence of the changes in boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the need for the inclusion of mental health interventions as part of the current pandemic control protocol and public health preparedness towards infectious disease outbreaks.
Highlights
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with several adverse health outcomes
The findings underscore the need for the inclusion of mental health interventions as part of the current pandemic control protocol and public health preparedness towards infectious disease outbreaks
To contain the spread of this highly contagious novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many countries imposed various preventive measures including social distancing, isolation measures, mandatory and self-quarantine for persons who traveled from affected countries or those suspected to have been in contact with exposed or infected persons
Summary
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with several adverse health outcomes. To contain the spread of this highly contagious novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many countries imposed various preventive measures including social distancing, isolation measures, mandatory and self-quarantine for persons who traveled from affected countries or those suspected to have been in contact with exposed or infected persons While these containment measures might have contributed to the protection of the public’s health, they have implications for mental health outcomes such as anxiety, stress, boredom, negative religious coping, extreme hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and the well-being of populations at the individual, household and community levels [2]. This has been associated with high stress levels, depression, irritability and insomnia, and boredom as people are limited in their desires and engagement in social activities [8,9,10,11], impacting on their overall psychological well-being
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