Fear of contagion, emotional stress and coping strategies used by adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

• Published in: BMC psychiatry 2022-11, Vol.22 (1), p.732-732, Article 732
• Main Authors: Folayan, Morenike Oluwatoyin, Ibigbami, Olanrewaju, Brown, Brandon, El Tantawi, Maha, Aly, Nourhan M, Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño, Abeldaño, Giuliana Florencia, Ara, Eshrat, Ellakany, Passent, Gaffar, Balgis, Al-Khanati, Nuraldeen Maher, Idigbe, Ifeoma, Ishabiyi, Anthonia Omotola, Jafer, Mohammed, Khan, Abeedha Tu-Allah, Khalid, Zumama, Lawal, Folake Barakat, Lusher, Joanne, Nzimande, Ntombifuthi P, Popoola, Bamidele Olubukola, Quadri, Mir Faeq Ali, Roque, Mark, Okeibunor, Joseph Chukwudi, Nguyen, Annie Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aged; Alcohol use; Behavior; Coping; Coping (Psychology); Coping strategies; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Dependent variables; Emotional Stress; Emotions; Epidemics; Exercise; Fear; Fear & phobias; Fear - psychology; Frustration; Humans; Independent variables; Infant, Newborn; Loneliness; Media coverage; Meditation; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mindfulness; Nigeria - epidemiology; Pandemic; Pandemics; Psychiatry; Psychological aspects; Psychological Distress; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Skills; Social networks; Sociodemographics; Stress; Stress (Psychology)
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04360-w

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced high levels of stress. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between emotional stress (COVID-19 related fear, anger, frustration, and loneliness) and the use of coping strategies among adults in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from adults aged 18 years and above were collected through an online survey from July to December 2020. The dependent variables were COVID-19 related fear (fear of infection and infecting others with COVID-19), anger, frustration, and loneliness. The independent variables were coping strategies (use of phones to communicate with family and others, video conferencing, indoor exercises, outdoor exercises, meditation/mindfulness practices, engaging in creative activities, learning a new skill, following media coverage related to COVID-19) and alcohol consumption. Five logistic regression models were developed to identify the factors associated with each dependent variables. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables (age, sex at birth, and the highest level of education). Respondents who consumed alcohol, followed media coverage for COVID-19 related information, and who spoke with friends or family on the phone had higher odds of having fear of contracting COVID-19 or transmitting infection to others, and of feeling angry, frustrated, or lonely (p