Psychological Well-Being and Coping Strategies among Pakistani Heads of Households during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey

Unaib Rabbani; Adeel Ahmed Khan; Fahad Saqib Lodhi; Saamia Arshad; Saadia Irum; NajeebUllah Marwat

doi:10.47176/mjiri.36.49

Psychological Well-Being and Coping Strategies among Pakistani Heads of Households during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey

Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2022 May 14:36:49. doi: 10.47176/mjiri.36.49. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Unaib Rabbani¹, Adeel Ahmed Khan², Fahad Saqib Lodhi³, Saamia Arshad⁴, Saadia Irum⁵, NajeebUllah Marwat^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ FCPS Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
² FCPS Saudi Board Program of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Community Medicine, Women Medical and Dental College Abbottabad, Pakistan.
⁴ Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
⁶ WHO Area Coordinator Zhob Division Balochistan, Pakistan.
⁷ Health Management Cadre Health department, Government of Balochistan, Pakistan.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic can affect mental health. Heads of the household are at higher risk of this effect because of their financial and social responsibilities. This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being and its associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic among heads of households in Pakistan. Methods: We conducted an online survey in May 2020. A convenience sampling strategy was used to enroll the heads of the households from all regions of Pakistan. A validated English and Urdu version of the WHO-5 well-being scale was used to assess well-being. The prevalence of poor well-being and its associated factors among heads of the households was measured using logistic regression. Results: A total of 509 heads of households participated in the survey. About 35% of the participants were dependent on financial sources other than salary. The news was considered a source of fear as 70% assumed that avoiding such news may reduce the fear. The most common coping strategies used during lockdown were; spending quality time with family, eating healthy foods, adequate sleep and talking to friends on the phone. The prevalence of poor well-being was found to be 41% (95% CI: 36.62-45.51). Individuals with any chronic illness were at a higher risk of poor wellbeing adjusted odds ratio of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.04-2.59). Worriedness was also found to be associated with a higher risk of poor wellbeing adjusted OR 1.13 (95% CI: 1.06-1.19). Reading books showed a protective association with poor mental wellbeing adjusted OR 0.64 (95% CI: 0.42-0.98). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of poor mental wellbeing among heads of households in Pakistan. Worriedness related to the pandemic and having chronic illness were significant predictors of poor psychological wellbeing. Actions are required in the form of targeted mass psychological support systems for the heads of the families to improve their mental health during the COVID-19 crises.

Keywords: COVID-19; Head of Household; Mental Health; Pakistan; Psychological; Well-Being.