PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF COVID-19 AMONG GENERAL POPULATION OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

The human population has been drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to different psychological and social issues including health anxiety, depression, stress, and limited social interaction among the general population. The main theme of the present study was to evaluate/examine psychological problems caused by COVID-19, primarily focusing on anxiety, depression, stress levels and social impact in both COVID-19-affected and healthy populations. Utilizing the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) for data collection, this study compared individuals infected with COVID-19 to those who were not. Primary data was collected from 200 participants selected through non-probability consecutive sampling from the general population of KPK, comprising both males and females aged 15 years and above. Findings of the study confirmed elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among COVID-19-infected individuals. The study demonstrated significant disparities in anxiety, depression, and stress levels between COVID-19-infected and healthy respondents. Those with COVID-19 show increased clinical depression, anxiety, and stress, aligning with previous studies indicating higher anxiety, stress, and depression in hospitalized patients. Moreover, the findings regarding gender differences in psychological health, with females revealing higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to males. The conclusion from the study revealed that females are more vulnerable to psychological problems. Based on the study findings of this empirical work it is recommended to conduct further empirical work involving a larger and more diverse population to deepen our understanding of these psychological challenges and develop effective strategies for psychological health support.