COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has produced negative mental health outcomes. These effects were more prominent in vulnerable communities that experienced prior similar disasters. The study aimed to examine the likelihood and correlates of anxiety symptoms among Fort McMurray (FMM) residents, duri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/1/13 |
| _version_ | 1797495792856989696 |
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| author | Reham Shalaby Ejemai Eboreime Nnamdi Nkire Belinda Agyapong Hannah Pazderka Gloria Obuobi-Donkor Medard Kofi Adu Wanying Mao Ernest Owusu Folajinmi Oluwasina Vincent I. O. Agyapong |
| author_facet | Reham Shalaby Ejemai Eboreime Nnamdi Nkire Belinda Agyapong Hannah Pazderka Gloria Obuobi-Donkor Medard Kofi Adu Wanying Mao Ernest Owusu Folajinmi Oluwasina Vincent I. O. Agyapong |
| author_sort | Reham Shalaby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has produced negative mental health outcomes. These effects were more prominent in vulnerable communities that experienced prior similar disasters. The study aimed to examine the likelihood and correlates of anxiety symptoms among Fort McMurray (FMM) residents, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey questionnaire was applied between 24 April and 2 June 2021, at FMM, to gather sociodemographic, COVID-19, and clinical information, including generalized anxiety disorder (using GAD-7 scale). Results: Overall, 186 individuals completed the survey (response rate 74.7%). Most of the respondents were females (159, 85.5%); above 40 years (98, 52.7%); employed (175, 94.1%); and in relationship (132, 71%). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety was (42.5%, 71) on GAD-7 self-reported scale. Subscribers who reported that they would like to receive mental health support; have received no family support since COVID-19 declaration; and have lost their job during the pandemic were all more likely to report moderate-to-severe anxiety (OR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.29–8.88), (OR = 4.85; 95% CI: 1.56–15.03), and (OR = 4.40; 95% CI: 1.01–19.24), respectively. Conclusions: Anxiety levels were high among FMM residents, compared to levels before COVID-19. Clinical and social factors significantly predicted likely anxiety in the Fort McMurray population, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ffba389483e490b9beda780ca8acf33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ffba389483e490b9beda780ca8acf332023-11-23T12:58:48ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2022-01-011211310.3390/bs12010013COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of AnxietyReham Shalaby0Ejemai Eboreime1Nnamdi Nkire2Belinda Agyapong3Hannah Pazderka4Gloria Obuobi-Donkor5Medard Kofi Adu6Wanying Mao7Ernest Owusu8Folajinmi Oluwasina9Vincent I. O. Agyapong10Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has produced negative mental health outcomes. These effects were more prominent in vulnerable communities that experienced prior similar disasters. The study aimed to examine the likelihood and correlates of anxiety symptoms among Fort McMurray (FMM) residents, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey questionnaire was applied between 24 April and 2 June 2021, at FMM, to gather sociodemographic, COVID-19, and clinical information, including generalized anxiety disorder (using GAD-7 scale). Results: Overall, 186 individuals completed the survey (response rate 74.7%). Most of the respondents were females (159, 85.5%); above 40 years (98, 52.7%); employed (175, 94.1%); and in relationship (132, 71%). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety was (42.5%, 71) on GAD-7 self-reported scale. Subscribers who reported that they would like to receive mental health support; have received no family support since COVID-19 declaration; and have lost their job during the pandemic were all more likely to report moderate-to-severe anxiety (OR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.29–8.88), (OR = 4.85; 95% CI: 1.56–15.03), and (OR = 4.40; 95% CI: 1.01–19.24), respectively. Conclusions: Anxiety levels were high among FMM residents, compared to levels before COVID-19. Clinical and social factors significantly predicted likely anxiety in the Fort McMurray population, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/1/13anxietytraumaCOVID-19cross-sectionalonline surveyFort McMurray |
| spellingShingle | Reham Shalaby Ejemai Eboreime Nnamdi Nkire Belinda Agyapong Hannah Pazderka Gloria Obuobi-Donkor Medard Kofi Adu Wanying Mao Ernest Owusu Folajinmi Oluwasina Vincent I. O. Agyapong COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety Behavioral Sciences anxiety trauma COVID-19 cross-sectional online survey Fort McMurray |
| title | COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety |
| title_full | COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety |
| title_short | COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety |
| title_sort | covid 19 pandemic in a vulnerable population prevalence and correlates of anxiety |
| topic | anxiety trauma COVID-19 cross-sectional online survey Fort McMurray |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/1/13 |
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