Abstract
Abstract
Background
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.
Objectives
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.
Methods
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.
Results
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).
Conclusions
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.
Funder
Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference40 articles.
1. Panchal N, Kamal R, Cox C, Garfield R 2021. The implications of COVID-19 for mental health and substance use. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2021. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/.Accessed 9 Nov 2021.
2. World Health Organization. Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 response. 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline.
3. Smout A. Anxiety surged during pandemic, particularly among women – study. REUTERS. 2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/anxiety-surged-during-pandemic-particularly-among-women-study-2021-10-08/
4. Pedrosa AL, Bitencourt L, Fróes ACF, Cazumbá MLB, Campos RGB, de Brito SBCS, Silva Simões E, AC. Emotional, behavioral, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol. 2020;11:566212. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566212.
5. Zalis S. Moms are less likely to return to the workforce post-COVID—here’s how employers can help. FORBES. 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2021/09/09/moms-are-less-likely-to-return-to-the-workforce-post-covid-heres-how-employers-can-help/?sh=4de20f0c4d72. Accessed Mar 2023.