COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety

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

doi:10.3390/BS12010013

COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety

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

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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 McMur-ray (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 pan-demic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Original language	English
Article number	13
Journal	Behavioral Sciences
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/BS12010013
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation and the Douglas Harden Trust Fund. Support with survey link distribution was received from the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Boards, Keyano College, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Funding Information:
Received sufficient support from Government of Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic declared

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Development
Genetics
General Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/BS12010013

Cite this

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title = "COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety",

abstract = "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 McMur-ray (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 pan-demic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.",

author = "Reham Shalaby and Ejemai Eboreime and Nnamdi Nkire and Belinda Agyapong and Hannah Pazderka and Gloria Obuobi-Donkor and Adu, {Medard Kofi} and Wanying Mao and Ernest Owusu and Folajinmi Oluwasina and Agyapong, {Vincent I.O.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation and the Douglas Harden Trust Fund. Support with survey link distribution was received from the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Boards, Keyano College, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Funding Information: Received sufficient support from Government of Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic declared Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

doi = "10.3390/BS12010013",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Behavioral Sciences",

issn = "2076-328X",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

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T1 - COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population

T2 - Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety

AU - Shalaby, Reham

AU - Eboreime, Ejemai

AU - Nkire, Nnamdi

AU - Agyapong, Belinda

AU - Pazderka, Hannah

AU - Obuobi-Donkor, Gloria

AU - Adu, Medard Kofi

AU - Mao, Wanying

AU - Owusu, Ernest

AU - Oluwasina, Folajinmi

AU - Agyapong, Vincent I.O.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation and the Douglas Harden Trust Fund. Support with survey link distribution was received from the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Boards, Keyano College, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Funding Information: Received sufficient support from Government of Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic declared Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - 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 McMur-ray (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 pan-demic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AB - 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 McMur-ray (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 pan-demic. It is imperative that resources are mobilized to support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vulnerable Population: Prevalence and Correlates of Anxiety

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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