International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

COVID-19-Induced Anxiety and Covid-19 Precautionary Measures as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing of Nigerians

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Chioma Mildred Ojiaku 1
Steven Iorfa 2
Philip C Mefoh 3
Olivermichael Ezeuzo 4
Ijeoma Chidimma Odinko 2
1 University of Nigeria Nsukka
2 Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
3 Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
4 Department of Early Childhood's care and Education, Nwafo Orizu College of Education,Nsugbe.
10.30491/ijbs.2020.239210.1342
Abstract
Abstract

Introduction: The present study investigated the COVID-19-induced anxiety and Covid-19 precautionary measures as predictors of mental wellbeing of Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method: By using a cross-sectional design methodology, 340 participants (58.2% males and 41.8% females) were selected through the snowball sampling technique. Their age ranged from 15 to 56 years (M=26.66; SD=6.485). Participants responded to the COVID-19-Induced Anxiety Questionnaire (C-19-IAQ), COVID-19 Precautionary Measures Questionnaire (C-19PMQ), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).
Results: Standard multiple regression analyses indicated that COVID-19 induced-anxiety and COVID-19 precautionary measures significantly predicted mental wellbeing [R= .082; R2 -.077;F (2,337) =15.096, P < .05]. However, only COVID-19 induced-anxiety [b= -.25, t (339)=-3.94,p < .05] independently predicted mental wellbeing.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, the researchers recommended that mental wellbeing in the era of COVID-19 should be prioritized and given necessary attention by governments and other stakeholders. Information on COVID-19 should be structured in a manner that promotes health knowledge of the pandemic rather than inducing fear and anxiety. Individuals are also urged to engage in anxiety-reducing techniques which may help curb the rise of anxiety in these times of the COVID-19.
Keywords
Keywords: Mental Wellbeing
COVID-19-induced Anxiety
COVID-19 Precautionary Measures
Nigerians
  1. World Health Organization (WHO).Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situational report-76. Geneva: World Health Organization.2020 April 5.
  2. WHO. (30 January 2020).Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Newsroom.2020 January 30.Available at:https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)
  3. Holmes E A, Connor R C O, Perry V H, Tracey I, Wessely S, Arseneault L, et al. Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 April 15; 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215- 0366(20)30168-1.
  4. Rajkumar R P.COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature. Asian J of Psychiatr. 2020; 52: 1-5.102066.
  5. Stewart-Brown S, Janmohamed K (2008). Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale: User Guide. Version 1.2008. From http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/2702.aspx
  6. Chukwuorji J C, Iorfa S K, Nzeadibe T C, Ifeagwazi C M. Role of climate change awareness and proenvironmental behavior in subjective wellbeing. Nigerian Journal of Social Sciences.2017;13 (1):39-48.
  7. Tough H, Siegrist J, Fekete C. Social relationships, mental health and wellbeing in physical disability: a systematic review [published correction appears in BMC Public Health. 2017 Jun 16;17 (1):580]. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):414. Published 2017 May 8. doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4308-6.
  8. Ugwu C, Ogba K T U, Nwonyi S K, Ugwuegede P N, Iorfa S K. Personality, loneliness, and mental health in a sub-Saharan sample of university students. Nigerian Journal of Psychological Research.2017; 13: 8-16.
  9. Sydney-Agbor N, Ebeh R &Onyeanu M. Mental wellbeing among undergraduates in Nigeria: A function of academic stress, substance abuse, and age. IJHPR.2018; 6(2):36.43.
  10. Guitea H F, Clarkb C, Ackrillc G. The impact of the physical and urban environment on mental well-being. Public Health.2006;120(12) :1117–1126. Doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.10.005
  11. Weir K. Climate change is threatening mental health. American Psychological Association, Monitor on Psychology.2016; 47(7):28.
  12. Ghandour R M ,Sherman L J ,Vladutiu C J, Ali M M, Lynch S E, Bitsko ,R H et al. Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in US children. The Journal of Pediatrics.2019; 206:256-267.e3
  13. Iani L, Quinto R M, Lauriola M, Crosta M L Pozzi G. Psychological wellbeing and distress in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: The roles of positive and negative functioning. Plos One.2019;14(11): e0225646.
  14. Ressler K J.Translating across circuits and genetics toward progress in fear-and anxiety-related disorders. Am J Psychiatry,2020; 177 (3):214-222.
  15. American Psychiatric Association . New poll: COVID-19 impacting mental wellbeing: Americans feeling anxious, especially for loved ones; older adults are less anxious. Psychiatry Newsroom,Washington, D.C. Mar25, 2020. From https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/new-poll-COVID-19-impacting-mental-wellbeing-americans-feeling-anxious-especially-for-loved-ones-older-adults-are-less-anxious.
  16. Olapegba P O, Iorfa S K, Ayandele O, Kolawole S O, Oguntayo R, Gandi J C, &Ottu I F A. Survey data of COVID-19-related Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Precautionary Behavior among Nigerians. Data in Brief.2020.
  17. Office for National Statistics ( May 7, 2020).Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain.UK. From  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritain/7may2020
  18. Li W, Yang Y, Liu ZH, Zhao YJ, Zhang Q, Zhang L, et al. Progression of Mental Health Services during the COVID-19 Outbreak in China. Int J BiolSci 2020; 16(10):1732-1738. doi:10.7150/ijbs.45120. Available from http://www.ijbs.com/v16p1732.htm
  19. Chaturvedi S K.COVID-19, coronavirus, and mental health rehabilitation at times of crisis. Journal of Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health. 2020 April 02; 7:1-2.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-020-00162-z
  20. Bayati B, Afrooz G, Baghdassarians A, Ghasemzadeh S, Rajab A.The relationship between parent anxiety, mental wellbeing, and life quality in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes. J Fam Psychol. 2017; 4(1):29-40.
  21. Vaingankar J A, Abdin E, Chong S A, Sambasivam R, Seow E, JeyagurunathanA,et al. Psychometric properties of the short Warwick Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale (SWEMWBS) in service users with schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety spectrum disorders. Health Qual Life Out.2017;15(1): 153. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-017-0728-3
  22. Malone C, Wachholtz A. The relationship of anxiety and depression to subjective wellbeing in a mainland Chinese sample. J Relig and Health. 2018; 57(1):266-278.
  23. Phillips M C, Shivappac N, Hébertc R J, Perry J I. Dietary inflammatory index and mental health: A cross-sectional analysis of the relationship with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and wellbeing in adults. Clin. Nutr. 2018; 37(5):1485-1491.
  24. Iorfa S K,Ottu I F, Oguntayo R, Ayandele O, Kolawole S O, Ghandi J C, et al. COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and precautionary behavior among Nigerians: A moderated mediation approach.   Front. Psychol. 2020; 11:566773. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566773
  25. Pfefferbaum B, North CS. Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 13]. N Engl J Med. 2020;10.1056/NEJMp2008017. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2008017
  26. Galea S, Merchant RM, Lurie N. The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing: The Need for Prevention and Early Intervention [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 10]. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562.
  27. Tennant R, Hiller L, Fishwick R, Platt S, Joseph S, Weich S, et al.The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental well-being Scale (WEMWBS): Development and UK validation.HealthQual Life Out.2007 Nov. 2007;5:63.https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-63 
  28. Cardin,M.A. COVID-19 and Anxiety: A review of the psychological impacts of infectious disease outbreaks. Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases.2020 April 02. In Press (In Press):e102779.
  29. Ben-Collins N, Emeka. 5G, Religion, and Misconceptions in the age of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.2020 April 18.
  30. Wang C, Pan R, Wan X, Tan Y, Xu L ,Ho C S, et al. Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(5),1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph170517051729
  31. Xiao Y, Torok M E. Taking the right measures to control COVID-19.Lancet Infect Dis.2020; 20 (5):523-524. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30152-3.
  32. Rossi R., Socci V, DalilaTalevi D, Mensi S, Niolu C, Pacitti F, et al. COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures impact on mental 2 health among the general population in Italy. An N=18147 web-based 3 survey. medRxiv preprint.2020. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.09.20057802.
  33. Venkatesh A, Edirappuli S. Social distancing in COVID-19: what are the mental health implications? BMJ2020; 369. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1379
  34. Well Being Trust & Robert Graham Center. Projected deaths of despair during COVID-19. 2020 May 08. From https://wellbeingtrust.org/areas-of-focus/policy-and-advocacy/reports/projected-deaths-of-despair-during-covid-19/
  35. Chukwuorji J C, Iorfa S K. Commentary on the coronavirus pandemic: Nigeria. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. 2020; 12(S1): S188-S190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000786

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 14, Issue 3
Autumn 2020
Pages 149-154