The relationships between stress, stress-coping behaviors, and suicidal risk among Thais who had become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe mental health problems worldwide. Thus, in addition to the high number of people who have died from infection with complications, some have committed suicide. This study aimed to determine the relationships between stress, stress-coping behaviors, and suicidal risk among those who had become unemployed in Thailand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study had a cross-sectional correlational design and included 447 unemployed Thais at least 18 years of age who had become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were selected through multistage sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were then analyzed using frequency, percentage, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Most participants had moderate-level stress (73.16%) and stress-coping behaviors (71.81%). Almost all the participants had no suicidal risk (76.73%). The stress level and overall stress-coping behavior were positively correlated with suicidal risk (r = 0.305, p <0.01 and r = 0.352, p <0.01, respectively). Stress and stress-coping behaviors were associated with suicidal risk among Thais who had become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, nurses must screen patients with psychological problems, especially those who have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for suicide risk. Developing interventions to reduce such patients' stress and promote appropriate stress-coping behaviors is essential.