Factors Associated with Israeli Arab Women Anxiety and Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Reports have shown that women suffered from anxiety, stress, depression, and fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic more than men. No study so far has examined the effect of the pandemic among the Arab minority in Israel.

To examine the associations between levels of pandemic fatigue and stress of Israeli Arab women, and their anxiety and depression, along with their socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics.

A Cohen and Williamson questionnaire, which was based on a Likert scale, was distributed by the snowball method through social networks. Bivariate associations between the psycho-social and demographic characteristics and anxiety and depression were assessed using t-tests, chi-square tests, Z tests, and Pearson correlations. Multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the associations with anxiety and depression, and the mediation model was examined with path analysis with bootstrapping.

Among 2294 Israeli Arab mothers who participated in the study, 63.7% were in the clinical range for anxiety, 67.4% for depression, and 57.5% for both anxiety and depression. Low economic status, pandemic fatigue, living in closed communities, and stress were related to anxiety and depression. Pandemic fatigue was positively related to stress, which was positively related to both anxiety and depression (standardized indirect effect = 0.137, SE = 0.014, 95%CI = 0.111, 0.164, p < .001; vs. 0.133, SE = 0.013, 95%CI = 0.108, 0.160, p < .001 respectively). The contribution of stress to anxiety and depression was significantly greater than that of pandemic fatigue (Z = 19.43 and Z = 18.04, p < .001, for anxiety and depression, respectively).

Demographic characteristics may put Arab women at a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Elevated stress alongside high fatigue may trigger mental health difficulties. The welfare of minorities should be addressed by policymakers in relation to their demographic needs.