Psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health among Iranians

Heidarimoghadam, R, Babamiri, M, Alipour, N, Zemestani, M, Heidarimoghadam, R, Shekari, M and Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2023. Psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health among Iranians. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 17 (1): e131583. ISSN 1735-8639

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Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences may impact individuals’ mental health.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the psychological status of individuals during the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran following the government’s social distancing plan.

Methods: Data from 1,524 people were collected using a cross-sectional web-based survey via social media. Demographic variables and psychological status were evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire, Stress Response Inventory, and Brunel Mood Scale.

Results: Individuals reported that their mental health functioning decreased during the pandemic. Four factors were associated with increased stress: (1) fear of getting sick; (2) indefinite quarantine duration; (3) impaired daily activities; and (4) reduced social communication. One-third of the participants reported physical symptoms (32.7%), 47% anxiety, 72% social dysfunction, and 28.3% depression. Approximately half of the participants (52.2%) reported mental health disorder symptoms. Detrimental mental health characteristics were higher among females, younger people, and single people.

Conclusions: Health policies should be implemented to help reduce the psychological burden during and after the Iranian government’s Social Distancing Plan, especially among females, single people, and younger people.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Creators:	Heidarimoghadam, R., Babamiri, M., Alipour, N., Zemestani, M., Heidarimoghadam, R., Shekari, M. and Griffiths, M.D.
Publisher:	Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Date:	2023
Volume:	17
Number:	1
ISSN:	1735-8639
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.5812/ijpbs-131583 DOI 1773180 Other
Rights:	This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International License.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	27 Jun 2023 08:22
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2023 08:22
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/49284

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