Religious Coping, Depression and Anxiety among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian Perspective

Soon Ken Chow,Mohd Hafyzuddin Md Yusuf,Benedict Francis,Hooi Chin Beh,Yit Han Ng,Jia Wen Lee,Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman,Najmi Naim,Mohammad Aizuddin Azizah Ariffin

doi:10.3390/healthcare9010079

Soon Ken Chow, Mohd Hafyzuddin Md Yusuf + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010079

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Journal: Healthcare	Publication Date: Jan 15, 2021
Citations: 72	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University Malaya Medical Centre, University of Malaya

Abstract

Anxiety and depression have been prevalent among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among HCWs amid the pandemic and their association with religious coping. A cross-sectional study design was applied. The scales utilized were Malay versions of the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE M) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS M). In total, 200 HCWs were recruited. HCWs scored higher in positive religious coping (mean: 21.33) than negative religious coping (mean: 10.52). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 36.5% and 29.5%. Both positive and negative religious coping were significantly associated with anxiety (p < 0.01) and depression (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Positive coping predicted reduction in anxiety (adjusted b = −0.15, p = 0.001) and log-transformed depression score (adjusted b = −0.019, p = 0.025). Negative coping predicted increment of anxiety (adjusted b = 0.289, p < 0.001) and log-transformed depression score (adjusted b = 0.052, p < 0.001). Positive religious coping is vital in reducing anxiety and depression among HCWs amid the pandemic. Strategies which increase positive religious coping and reduce negative religious coping must be emphasized to boost mental health among HCWs.

Highlights

IntroductionAs of 15th January 2021, a total of 147,855 positive cases of COVID-19 [1] were documented in Malaysia, including 578 deaths
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked chaos worldwide, affecting scores of people
To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first research evaluating the correlation between religious coping, anxiety and depression, amongst the Healthcare Workers (HCWs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

As of 15th January 2021, a total of 147,855 positive cases of COVID-19 [1] were documented in Malaysia, including 578 deaths. Facing this critical challenge, healthcare workers (HCWs) from many nations, including Malaysia, relentlessly fought the pandemic. Various risk factors have been identified as being associated with adverse mental health outcomes amongst the HCWs during the pandemic, such as social isolation, lack of support, battling on the frontline, fear of infecting colleagues or family members [7]. HCWs were especially prone to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or posttraumatic symptoms according to a recent review which focused on three Coronavirus outbreaks, including SARS 2003, MERS 2012 and COVID-19 [8]. Positive coping strategies such as the application of humor, altruistic acceptance of the risks related to work [9] and confiding relationships were reported to be associated with lower rates of PTSD

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