The Impact of COVID-19 on the People with Mental Illnesses: Health Anxiety, Coping Strategies, and Psychological Well-Being

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 3, 607 - 628, 28.10.2022

Selin Karaköse

https://doi.org/10.31682/ayna.1080127

Abstract

Although depression, anxiety, and stress were highly prevalent in the general population during the pandemic, some marginalized groups, including patients with mental disorders might have been overlooked in studies. This study examined the relationship between health anxiety, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes, particularly depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. The aim of the current study is to examine the mediator role of coping strategies between health anxiety and mental health outcomes in using data from 80 individuals with mental diagnosis. Also, using 168 healthy controls (N = 248 participants), we sought to investigate whether an individuals’ mental diagnoses was associated with their scores on health anxiety, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes. Sociodemographic Information and Health Data Form, Health Anxiety Inventory – Short Form [SHAI], Ways of Coping Strategies [WCQ], and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale [DASS-42] were given to the participants. Results demonstrated that people with mental illnesses had moderate levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, in contrast to healthy controls. Furthermore, mediator analysis revealed that accepting responsibility significantly mediated the relationship between health anxiety, depression, anxiety, and stress in people with mental illnesses. The findings have suggested that individuals with psychological problems are at risk for adverse mental health outcomes. Furthermore, these findings highlight that therapists should prioritize intervention studies focusing on health anxiety, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes during COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19, health anxiety, coping strategies, mental health, people with illnesses

Supporting Institution

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK)

Project Number

Contract Approval: 06/24/2020, Project No.: 120K421).

COVID-19 Pandemisinin Psikiyatrik Tanı Almış Bireyler Üzerindeki Etkisi: Sağlık Kaygısı, Baş Etme Stratejileri ve Psikolojik İyi Oluş

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisinde depresyon, anksiyete ve stresdüzeyinde yüksek oranlar bilinmesine rağmen yürütülen pek çok çalışmada ruh sağlığı açısından önceliklendirilmesi gereken psikiyatrik tanı almış bireylerin göz ardı edildiği dikkat çekmektedir. Bu çalışma, sağlık kaygısı, baş etme stratejileri ve psikolojik oluş değişkenlerini (depresyon, anksiyete ve stress) psikiyatrik tanı almış bireylerde incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. COVID-19 pandemisi öncesinde psikiyatrik tanı almış 80 birey ile sağlık kaygısı ve psikolojik iyi oluş arasında baş etme yollarının aracı etkisi araştırılmış, sağlıklı kontrol grubunu da içeren toplam 248 birey arasında da araştırma değişkenlerinin ortalama puanları karşılaştırılmıştır. Sosyodemografik Bilgi ve Sağlık Veri Formuna ek olarak, Sağlık Kaygısı Ölçeği-Kısa Form [SHAI-SF], Baş Etme Yolları Ölçeği [WCQ] ve Depresyon, Kaygı, Stres Skalası [DASS-42] katılımcılara sunulmuştur. Sonuçlar, sağlıklı kontrol grubunun depresyon, anksiyete ve stress puanlarının normal düzeyde olduğunu, ancak psikiyatrik tanı almış bireylerin orta düzeyde depresyon, anksiyete ve stres düzeyine sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca, sorumluluğu kabul etme baş etme stratejinin sağlık kaygısı ve depresyon, anksiyete, stres arasında aracılık gösterdiği bulunmuştur. Çalışmanın bulguları, COVID-19 pandemisinde, psikiyatrik tanısı olan bireylerin ruh sağlığı açısından risk altında olduğunu ve sağlık kaygısı, baş etme yolları ile psikolojik iyi oluş düzeylerine yönelik müdahalelerin önceliklendirilmesi gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.

Keywords

COVID-19, sağlık kaygısı, baş etme yolları, ruh sağlığı, psikiyatrik tanı almış bireyler

Project Number

Contract Approval: 06/24/2020, Project No.: 120K421).

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