Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 33 No. 2, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2021.217
SOCIAL SUPPORT PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM TURKEY
Hatice Kaya
orcid.org/0000-0003-3281-5135
; Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Sultanbeyli State Hospital, Sultanbeyli Community Mental Health Center, Istanbul, Sultanbeyli, Turkey
Batuhan Ayık
orcid.org/0000-0002-9322-2336
; Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Erenkoy Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Erenkoy, Turkey
Rumeysa Tasdelen
; Department of Psychiatry, Marmara University Istanbul Pendik Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Pendik, Turkey
Mete Ercis
orcid.org/0000-0003-1272-5503
; Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Fatih, Turkey
Erhan Ertekin
; Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Fatih, Turkey
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) has several negative effects on mental health, given its rapid transmission, hygiene and isolation measures and associated social and financial difficulties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mental health burden of the Turkish population and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 outbreak, especially exploring the effects of social support.
Subjects and methods: We assessed depression, anxiety, stress symptoms and perceived social support among 894 people all over Turkey, using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) two months after the declaration of the first COVID-19 case in Turkey.
Results: According to DASS-21 subscale scores, the findings showed that the prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress-related symptoms was 24.8%, 21.9% and 12.6%, respectively. Female gender, being single, having a lifetime psychiatric disorder, lower education level and financial concerns were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 scores. Also, there was a negative correlation between all subgroups of perceived social support, especially from the family, and the total DASS-21 score.
Conclusions: Vulnerable groups should be identified and protected to reduce adverse psychiatric outcomes of COVID-19. Besides, further strategies should be provided to maintain protective factors, such as social support, under stressful conditions.
Keywords
depression; anxiety; stress; social support; coronavirus
Hrčak ID:
259603
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2021.
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