The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women's Mental Health in Turkey and What these Effects Suggest

Year 2023, , 81 - 89, 02.02.2023

Sena Dilek Aksoy , Ayla Ergin , Suzi Özdemir , Belgin Babadağlı

https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.1192075

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected societies and individuals in all aspects, including mental and physical health. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of COVID 19 pandemic on anxiety and depression levels and related factors in women.
Methods: As a descriptive cross-sectional study, it was conducted with a total of 728 women between December 2020 and March 2021. Data were collected by Google survey using the descriptive information form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Results: Having concerns about own health had a strong effect on coronavirus-related anxiety (p<0.001, η2 = 0.037) and the anxiety dimension of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (p<0.001, η2 = 0.098). Marital relationships had a strong effect on HADS depression dimension scores (p<0.001, η2 = 0.067).
Conclusion: The younger women, those who had problematic marital relationship and those who were exposed to domestic violence had higher anxiety and depression scores. Relevant measures should be taken to reduce the concerns of more risky groups, especially women, in the health system and should be considered in future planning on this subject.

Keywords

COVID-19, anxiety, depression, women, mental health

Türkiye'de COVID-19 Pandemisinin Kadınların Kaygı ve Depresyon Düzeylerine Etkisi ve Bu Etkilerin Önerdikleri

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 salgını, toplumları ve bireyleri zihinsel ve fiziksel sağlık da dahil olmak üzere tüm yönleriyle derinden etkilemişdir. Bu çalışmada COVID 19 pandemisinin kadınlarda anksiyete ve depresyon düzeylerine ve ilişkili faktörlere etkisini belirlemeyi amaçladık.
Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı kesitsel çalışma olarak Aralık 2020- Mart 2021 tarihleri arasında toplam 728 kadın ile yapılmıştır. Veriler tanıtıcı bilgi formu, Koronavirüs Anksiyete Ölçeği (CAS) ve Hastane Anksiyete ve Depresyon Ölçeği (HADS) kullanılarak Google anket ile toplanmıştır.
Bulgular: Kendi sağlığıyla ilgili kaygı duymanın, koronavirüs ile ilişkili kaygı (p<0,001, η2 = 0,037) ve Hastane Anksiyete ve Depresyon Ölçeği (HADS)'nin kaygı boyutu (p<0,001, η2 = 0,098) üzerinde güçlü bir etkisi olmuştur. HADS depresyon boyut puanları üzerinde evlilik ilişkilerinin güçlü bir etkisi vardı (p<0,001, η2 = 0,067).
Sonuç: Daha genç yaştaki kadınların, evlilik ilişkisi sorunlu olanların ve aile içi şiddete maruz kalanların anksiyete ve depresyon puanları daha yüksekti. Başta kadınlar olmak üzere daha riskli grupların sağlık sistemindeki endişelerini azaltmak için gerekli önlemler alınmalı ve bu konuda gelecek planlamalarda dikkate alınmalıdır.

Keywords

COVID-19, anksiyete, depresyon, kadın, ruh sağlığı

References

• WHO. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. https://covid19.who.int/. Published 2021. Accessed November 28, 2021.
• Holmes EA, O’Connor RC, Perry VH, et al. Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(6):547-560. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30168-1
• Özdin S, Bayrak Özdin Ş. Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(5):504-511. doi:10.1177/0020764020927051
• McManus S, Bebbington PE, Jenkins R, et al. Data Resource Profile: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). Int J Epidemiol. 2020;49(2):361-362e. doi:10.1093/ije/dyz224
• Daneshfar Z, Jahanian Sadatmahalleh S, Youseflu S, Bahri Khomami M, Kazemnejad A. Influential factors on quality of life in married Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: a path analysis. BMC Womens Health. 2021;21(102):1-8. doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01114-2
• Duan L, Zhu G. Psychological interventions for people affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):300-302. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30073-0
• Knolle F, Ronan L, Murray GK. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: a comparison between Germany and the UK. BMC Psychol. 2021;9(60):1-17. doi:10.1186/s40359-021-00565-y
• Torales J, O’Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A. The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(4):317-320. doi:10.1177/0020764020915212
• Wang C, Pan R, Wan X, et al. Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(5):1729. doi:10.3390/ijerph17051729
• Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet. 2020;395(10227):912-920. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8
• Rubin GJ, Wessely S. The psychological effects of quarantining a city. BMJ. 2020;368(January):m313. doi:10.1136/bmj.m313
• UNWOMEN. Surveys Show that COVID-19 has gendered effects in Asia and the Pacific. https://data.unwomen.org/resources/surveys-show-covid-19-has-gendered-effects-asia-and-pacific. Published 2020. Accessed June 15, 2021.
• Yehuda R, Hoge CW, McFarlane AC, et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Nat Rev Dis Prim. 2015;1(15057):1-22. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2015.57
• Biçer İ, Çakmak C, Demir H. Coronavirus anxiety scale short form: Turkish validity and reliability study. Anadolu Klin Tıp Bilim Derg. 2020;25(1):216-225. doi:10.21673/anadoluklin.731092
• Demir Z, Toprak AÖ. Attitude And Behavior Of Women On Virus And Everyday Life In The Quarantine Days Caused By Covid-19 Outbreak. Turkish Stud. 2020;15(6):391-413.
• Erdoğdu Y, Koçoğlu F, Sevim C. An investigation of the psychosocial and demographic determinants of anxiety and hopelessness during COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;23(EK1):24-37. doi:10.5505/kpd.2020.35403
• Artan T, Atak I, Karaman M, Cebeci F. Relationship Between Sociodemographic Characteristics, Psychological Resilience and Anxiety Levels in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. J Turkish Stud. 2020;Volume 15(Volume 15 Issue 6):79-94. doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.43882
• TUIK ADNKS. Address Based Population Registration System Results. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Adrese-Dayali-Nufus-Kayit-Sistemi-Sonuclari-2020-37210. Published 2020. Accessed December 2, 2020.
• Lee SA. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: A brief mental health screener for COVID-19 related anxiety. Death Stud. 2020;44(7):393-401. doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1748481
• Clark DA, Steer RA. Use of Nonsomatic Symptoms to Differentiate Clinically Depressed and Nondepressed Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Medical Illnesses. Psychol Rep. 1994;75(3):1089-1090. doi:10.2466/pr0.1994.75.3.1089
• Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67(6):361-370. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x
• Aydemir Ö. Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of hospital anxiety and depression scale. Türk Psikiyatr Derg. 1997;8(4):280-287. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301778685_Hastane_Anksiyete_ve_Depresyon_Olcegi_Turkce_Formunun_Gecerlilik_ve_Guvenilirlik_Calismasi_Reliability_and_Validity_of_the_Turkish_version_of_Hospital_Anxiety_and_Depression_Scale.
• Tatar A, Ayhan D. Evaluation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Non-clinic Turkish Sample Using Item Response Theory Analysis. Cyprus Turkish J Psychiatry Psychol. 2022;4(1). doi:10.35365/ctjpp.22.1.09
• Paz C, Mascialino G, Adana-Díaz L, et al. Behavioral and sociodemographic predictors of anxiety and depression in patients under epidemiological surveillance for COVID-19 in Ecuador. Reppermund S, ed. PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0240008. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240008
• Yedid Sion M, Harlev A, Weintraub AY, Sergienko R, Sheiner E. Is antenatal depression associated with adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes? J Matern Neonatal Med. 2016;29(6):863-867. doi:10.3109/14767058.2015.1023708
• Morgul E, Bener A, Atak M, et al. COVID-19 pandemic and psychological fatigue in Turkey. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021;67(2):128-135. doi:10.1177/0020764020941889
• Liu N, Zhang F, Wei C, et al. Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: Gender differences matter. Psychiatry Res. 2020;287(January):112921. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112921
• Bobevski I, Clarke DM, Meadows G. Health Anxiety and Its Relationship to Disability and Service Use. Psychosom Med. 2016;78(1):13-25. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000252
• Wilhelm JA, Helleringer S. Utilization of non-Ebola health care services during Ebola outbreaks: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2019;9(1):1-13. doi:10.7189/jogh.09.010406
• Chang H-J, Huang N, Lee C-H, Hsu Y-J, Hsieh C-J, Chou Y-J. The Impact of the SARS Epidemic on the Utilization of Medical Services: SARS and the Fear of SARS. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(4):562-564. doi:10.2105/AJPH.94.4.562
• Turkish Ministry of Health. COVID-19 Pandemic Management and Study Guide. https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/Eklenti/39265/0/covid19salginyonetimivecalismarehberipdf.pdf. Published 2020. Accessed March 29, 2021.
• Wathelet M, Duhem S, Vaiva G, et al. Factors Associated With Mental Health Disorders Among University Students in France Confined During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(10):e2025591. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25591
• Ma Z, Zhao J, Li Y, et al. Mental health problems and correlates among 746 217 college students during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2020;29(e181):1-10. doi:10.1017/S2045796020000931
• Becerra-García JA, Giménez Ballesta G, Sánchez-Gutiérrez T, Barbeito Resa S, Calvo Calvo A. Psychopathological symptoms during Covid-19 quarantine in spanish general population: a preliminary analysis based on sociodemographic and occupational-contextual factors. Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2020;94(9):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1810185.
• Benke C, Autenrieth LK, Asselmann E, Pané-Farré CA. Lockdown, quarantine measures, and social distancing: Associations with depression, anxiety and distress at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic among adults from Germany. Psychiatry Res. 2020;293(January):113462. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113462
• Feter N, Caputo EL, Doring IR, et al. Sharp increase in depression and anxiety among Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the PAMPA cohort. Public Health. 2021;190(January):101-107. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2020.11.013
• Ramiz L, Contrand B, Rojas Castro MY, et al. A longitudinal study of mental health before and during COVID-19 lockdown in the French population. Global Health. 2021;17(29):1-16. doi:10.1186/s12992-021-00682-8
• Luttik MLA, Mahrer-Imhof R, García-Vivar C, et al. The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Family Affair. J Fam Nurs. 2020;26(2):87-89. doi:10.1177/1074840720920883
• Bodenmann G, Ledermann T, Bradbury TN. Stress, sex, and satisfaction in marriage. Pers Relatsh. 2007;14(4):551-569. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00171.x
• Ertan D, El-Hage W, Thierrée S, Javelot H, Hingray C. COVID-19: urgency for distancing from domestic violence. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2020;11(1):1800245. doi:10.1080/20008198.2020.1800245
• Luetke M, Hensel D, Herbenick D, Rosenberg M. Romantic Relationship Conflict Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Changes in Intimate and Sexual Behaviors in a Nationally Representative Sample of American Adults. J Sex Marital Ther. 2020;46(8):747-762. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2020.1810185
• Pietromonaco PR, Overall NC. Applying relationship science to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact couples’ relationships. Am Psychol. 2021;76(3):438-450. doi:10.1037/amp0000714
• UN Women. COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.; 2020. https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-en.pdf?la=en&vs=5006.
• Moghanibashi-Mansourieh A. Assessing the anxiety level of Iranian general population during COVID-19 outbreak. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;51(January):102076. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102076
• Stainback K, Hearne BN, Trieu MM. COVID-19 and the 24/7 News Cycle: Does COVID-19 News Exposure Affect Mental Health? Socius. 2020;6:1-15. doi:10.1177/2378023120969339.