@article{ref1,
title="Psychological distress, anxiety, family violence, suicidality, and wellbeing in Pakistan during the COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional study",
journal="Frontiers in psychology",
year="2022",
author="Yasmin, Farah and Jatoi, Hafsa Nazir and Abbasi, Muhammad Saif and Asghar, Muhammad Sohaib and Siddiqui, Sarush Ahmed and Nauman, Hamza and Khattak, Abdullah Khan and Alam, Muhammad Tanveer",
volume="13",
number="",
pages="e830935-e830935",
abstract="BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to draw the attention toward the implications of COVID-19 and the related restrictions imposed worldwide especially in Pakistan. The primary objective was to highlight the levels of psychological distress, anxiety, family violence, suicidality, and well-being due to COVID-19 and the secondary objective was to associate it to social demographic factors. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is designed as a cross-sectional study by employing an online questionnaire in the English language and obtaining responses using a snowball sampling technique. We used three validated measures including Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) index and World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). <br><br>RESULTS: A sample of 420 participants was recruited from across Pakistan, with most participants were females (79%), students (89.8%) and belonging to Punjab (54%). Nearly one-fourth of the participants (23.8%) scored above the minimum value set for moderate or high psychological distress (K10 > 12). There was a higher prevalence of distress among females and resident of province Punjab. The majority of individuals reported that they were living with their family (94.5%) and more than half (52.6%) were neutral regarding their satisfaction with their living conditions. 40.5% believed that the lockdown has had a negative impact on their mental health. 31.4% have reported that they themselves have experienced abuse from a family member. 48.6% scored high on the GAD-7 scale and low wellbeing score was found among 80.2%. Students were found to be more vulnerable to mental illness and anxiety. <br><br>CONCLUSION: With the lockdown restrictions, psychosocial distress has become prevalent in Pakistan.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1664-1078",
doi="10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830935",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830935"
}