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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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.

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