COVID-19 pandemic related excessive electronic media exposure and mental health in Saudi Arabia

Alnohair, S, Sayed, NK, Ahmed, HG, Sharaf, F, Alshehri, F, Haque, S and Griffiths, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2021. COVID-19 pandemic related excessive electronic media exposure and mental health in Saudi Arabia. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 25 (22), pp. 6941-6958. ISSN 1128-3602

Preview

Text 1499867_Griffiths.pdf - Published version Download (569kB) | Preview

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 and the emergence of novel mutated viral variants, families all over the world are experiencing wide-ranging stressors that threaten not only their financial well-being but also their physical and mental health. The present study assessed the association between excessive electronic media exposure of pandemic-related news and mental health of the residents of Ha’il Province, Saudi Arabia. The present study also assessed the prevalence of perceived stress, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, and loneliness due to COVID-19-related restrictions in the same population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 490 residents of Ha’il Province participated in a cross-sectional online survey during a two-month period (March to April 2021). A validated 38-item self-report survey was used to collect the data.

RESULTS: Significant associations were reported between excessive electronic media exposure and the prevalence of perceived stress (χ2=140.56; p < .001), generalized anxiety (χ2=74.55; p < .001), depression (χ2=71.58; p < .001), COVID-19-related fear (χ2=24.54; p < .001), and loneliness (χ2=11.46; p < .001). It was also found that participants without depressive symptoms were 0.28 times less likely to have been exposed to excessive electronic media exposure (AOR: 0.28; C.I. 0.16-0.48; p < .001). Similarly, participants with no stress/mild stress were 0.32 times less likely to have been exposed to excessive electronic media exposure (AOR: 0.32; C.I. 0.19-0.52; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest an urgent need for educational resilience programs (online and in-person) for susceptible individuals (females, unemployed, urban residents, etc.). Such programs would help them to develop skills to cope with the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
Creators:	Alnohair, S., Sayed, N.K., Ahmed, H.G., Sharaf, F., Alshehri, F., Haque, S. and Griffiths, M.
Publisher:	Verduci Editore
Date:	29 November 2021
Volume:	25
Number:	22
ISSN:	1128-3602
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.26355/eurrev_202111_27243 DOI 1499867 Other
Rights:	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	30 Nov 2021 12:16
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2021 12:16
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/45010

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads