PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AMONG THE EXPATRIATE POPULATION IN SAUDI ARABIA’S EASTERN PROVINCE

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has not only affected the physical health of those infected by it but has also taken a toll on the mental health of those experiencing the pandemic. With the rise in the number of cases an increase in depression, stress and anxiety has been observed. This research was conducted to study the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the expatriate community living in the Eastern province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire consisting of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The sample consisted of 336 individuals including 12 males and 324 females aged 18 and above. After data collection and analysis, prevalence rates of depression, anxiety and stress were calculated. The research revealed that the pandemic has affected the mental health of this population. The survey across the Eastern region showed that 65.47% of participants exhibited depressive symptoms, 73.8% showed the symptoms of anxiety and 57.14% reported stress. Females were reported to be more psychologically distressed than males. Similarly, the older population were found to have higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than the younger one. This study demonstrates that stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms are considerably prevalent in the expatriate community of Eastern region of KSA during the pandemic and calls for significant measures to be taken to mitigate these effects.

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Saudi Arabia, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, DASS-21, Mental Health