IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i11p6834-d830876.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mental Health Status of University Students and Working Professionals during the Early Stage of COVID-19 in Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Mondira Bardhan

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Asma Safia Disha

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Md Pervez Kabir

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Md. Riad Hossain

    (Institute of Disaster Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna 9203, Bangladesh)

  • Md Ashraful Alam

    (Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
    Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo 106-6234, Japan)

  • Md. Zahidul Haque

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Sharif Mutasim Billah

    (Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
    Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Matthew H. E. M. Browning

    (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Russell Kabir

    (School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SQ, UK)

  • Sarya Swed

    (Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo 6458+JPC, Syria)

  • Sheikh Shoib

    (Department of Psychiatry, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital (JLNMH), Srinagar 190003, India)

Abstract

A novel coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 has spread globally and brought a public health emergency to all nations. To respond to the pandemic, the Bangladesh Government imposed a nationwide lockdown that may have degraded mental health among residents, in particular, university students and working professionals. We examined clinically significant anxiety levels with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and perceived stress levels with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) in an online cross-sectional study with 744 adults. Approximately 70% of respondents were afflicted with clinically significant anxiety levels, and more than 43.82% were afflicted with moderate or high perceived stress levels. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that postgraduates (OR = 2.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–8.75, p < 0.05) were more likely to experience anxiety than their student counterparts. No such differences emerged for working professionals, however. Living with family members compared to living alone was a risk factor for perceived stress among working professionals (OR = 4.05, 95% CI = 1.45–11.32, p < 0.05). COVID-19 stressors such as financial hardship (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.11–3.05, p < 0.05) and worries of family members’ health (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.12–2.99) were risk factors for anxiety among students. Questionable social media news exposure (OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.13–7.92, p < 0.05) contributed to the development of mental stress among working professionals. These findings confirm that effective initiatives and proactive efforts from concerned authorities are necessary to cope with the mental health correlates of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in developing contexts such as Bangladesh.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary & Mondira Bardhan & Asma Safia Disha & Md Pervez Kabir & Md. Riad Hossain & Md Ashraful Alam & Md. Zahidul Haque & Sharif Mutasim Billah & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Russel, 2022. "Mental Health Status of University Students and Working Professionals during the Early Stage of COVID-19 in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6834-:d:830876
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6834/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6834/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Héctor Badellino & María Emilia Gobbo & Eduardo Torres & María Emilia Aschieri, 2021. "Early indicators and risk factors associated with mental health problems during COVID-19 quarantine: Is there a relationship with the number of confirmed cases and deaths?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(5), pages 567-575, August.
    2. Imran Aslan & Dominika Ochnik & Orhan Çınar, 2020. "Exploring Perceived Stress among Students in Turkey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Md Akhtarul Islam & Sutapa Dey Barna & Hasin Raihan & Md Nafiul Alam Khan & Md Tanvir Hossain, 2020. "Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Linn, M.W. & Sandifer, R. & Stein, S., 1985. "Effects of unemployment on mental and physical health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 75(5), pages 502-506.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paige S. Randall & Paula D. Koppel & Sharron L. Docherty & Jennie C. De Gagne, 2022. "The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postsecondary Students: An Analysis of Self-Determination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gülsen Erden & Asil Ali Özdoğru & Sami Çoksan & Hale Ögel-Balaban & Yakup Azak & İlkiz Altınoğlu-Dikmeer & Aysun Ergül-Topçu & Yeşim Yasak & Gözde Kıral-Uçar & Seda Oktay & Pelin Karaca-Dinç & Ezgi Di, 2022. "Social Contact, Academic Satisfaction, COVID-19 Knowledge, and Subjective Well-being Among Students at Turkish Universities: a Nine-University Sample," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2017-2039, August.
    2. Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Sandi James & Nelbon Giloi & Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim & Azizan Omar & Mohammad Saffree Jeffree & Firdaus Hayati & Mei Ching Lim & Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim & Jun Rong , 2021. "Relationships between Psychopathology, Psychological Process Variables, and Sociodemographic Variables and Comparison of Quarantined and Non-Quarantined Groups of Malaysian University Students in the ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Medard Kofi Adu & Lauren J. Wallace & Kwabena F. Lartey & Joshua Arthur & Kenneth Fosu Oteng & Samuel Dwomoh & Ruth Owusu-Antwi & Rita Larsen-Reindorf & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2021. "Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Ebru Caglayan Akay & Devrim Dumludag & Hoseng Bulbul & Ozkan Zulfuoglu, 2023. "Students in Turkey During the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 249-277, February.
    5. Ioulia Solomou & Fofi Constantinidou, 2020. "Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Compliance with Precautionary Measures: Age and Sex Matter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Canan Oyku Donmez Kara & Ilknur Karaaslan, 2022. "Covid-19 Pandemisinin Universite Ogrencilerinin Issizlik Kaygisi Uzerine Etkileri," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(82), pages 155-194, June.
    7. Karolina Fila-Witecka & Adrianna Senczyszyn & Agata Kołodziejczyk & Marta Ciułkowicz & Julian Maciaszek & Błażej Misiak & Dorota Szcześniak & Joanna Rymaszewska, 2021. "Lifestyle Changes among Polish University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Silvia Caterina Maria Tomaino & Sabrina Cipolletta & Zlatina Kostova & Irina Todorova, 2021. "Stories of Life during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Marta Ciułkowicz & Błażej Misiak & Dorota Szcześniak & Jolanta Grzebieluch & Julian Maciaszek & Joanna Rymaszewska, 2022. "The Portrait of Cyberchondria—A Cross-Sectional Online Study on Factors Related to Health Anxiety and Cyberchondria in Polish Population during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-10, April.
    10. J. Pierre Zila-Velasque & Pamela Grados-Espinoza & Naomi Coba-Villan & Jocelyn Quispe-Chamorro & Yesenia F. Taipe-Guillén & Estefany Pacheco & Laura Ccasa-Valero & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Cristian , 2022. "Mental Disorders and Level of Resilience in Eight High-Altitude Cities of Peru during the Second Pandemic Wave: A Multicenter Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Hee-Kyung Kim, 2022. "In the COVID-19 Era, Effects of Job Stress, Coping Strategies, Meaning in Life and Resilience on Psychological Well-Being of Women Workers in the Service Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Isabel Mercader Rubio & Pilar Sánchez-López & Nieves Gutiérrez Ángel & Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz, 2022. "Psychological Consequences of Fear of COVID-19: Symptom Analysis of Triggered Anxiety and Depression Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-8, October.
    13. S. Brent Jackson & Kathryn T. Stevenson & Lincoln R. Larson & M. Nils Peterson & Erin Seekamp, 2021. "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    14. Piotr Długosz & Damian Liszka & Anastasiia Bastrakova & Luydmila Yuzva, 2022. "Health Problems of Students during Distance Learning in Central and Eastern Europe: A Cross-Sectional Study of Poland and Ukraine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Artem Kashtanov & Ekaterina Molotok & Andrey Yavorovskiy & Alexander Boyarkov & Yuriy Vasil’ev & Ali Alsaegh & Sergey Dydykin & Olesya Kytko & Renata Meylanova & Yulianna Enina & Vasiliy Troitskiy & M, 2022. "A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Psycho-Emotional State of Intensive Care Units’ Physicians and Nurses of COVID-19 Hospitals of a Russian Metropolis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, February.
    16. Samara Ahmed & Adil E. Rajput & Akila Sarirete & Asma Aljaberi & Ohoud Alghanem & Abrar Alsheraigi, 2020. "Studying Unemployment Effects on Mental Health: Social Media versus the Traditional Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, October.
    17. Silvia Mariela Méndez-Prado & Ariel Flores Ulloa, 2022. "The Impact Analysis of Psychological Issues and Pandemic-Related Variables on Ecuadorian University Students during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    18. Federica Bianco & Annalisa Levante & Serena Petrocchi & Flavia Lecciso & Ilaria Castelli, 2021. "Maternal Psychological Distress and Children’s Internalizing/Externalizing Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role Played by Hypermentalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, October.
    19. Inessa Love & Boris Nikolaev & Chandra Dhakal, 2024. "The well-being of women entrepreneurs: the role of gender inequality and gender roles," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 325-352, January.
    20. Manka Eunice Fuh & Brice Wilfried Obiang-Obounou*, 2019. "Overview of Migrant Women’s Health in South Korea: Policy Recommendations," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 5(3), pages 709-714, 03-2019.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6834-:d:830876. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.