Apprehension and Stress Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic - A Population Based Study

Introduction: Public health outbreak due to communicable diseases may cause apprehension and fear in the population. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is one of the worst pandemics the world has seen in recent years, which might have caused apprehension and mental stress. It is prudent to explore the psychological implications associated with this highly infectious disease. However, there is a dearth in the literature regarding the nature and magnitude of psychological impact in the Indian population. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess the apprehension, fear and perceived stress related to the COVID-19 in the adult population. Methods:We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional semi-structured questionnaire-based study. A total of 295 adults from different parts of India completed the online questionnaire. Psychological impact was assessed using two reliable and validated scales: the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The psychological impact was compared between respondents with positive and negative history of COVID-19 infection. Results:The mean score for fear of COVID-19 was 20.28 (SD=5.536) in participants with a positive history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 18.33 (SD=5.302) in COVID negative individuals, with a p value of 0.006. However, the mean value for the perceived stress score was 19.17 (SD=6.264) and 18.26 (SD=5.826) for COVID positive and negative participants, respectively. Female subjects had significantly higher fear than their male counterparts. Participants who were relatively younger and those with a positive history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in their family were found to have a significantly higher perceived stress. Conclusion:The present study highlighted complex relationships between fear, stress and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with fear and stress among women and relatively younger adults who participated in the study. So, along with older population, psychological support should also be provided to younger adults during the times of pandemic. This should be taken into account in programs aimed at preventing and alleviating the psychological impact.