The mediation role of religiosity and hope for the effect of self-stigma on psychological well-being among Virus Corona (COVID-19) patients

Abstract

Abstract Background: Over the past few months, there is a significant increase in mortality and morbidity due to Coronavirus disease (Kar, Yasir Arafat, Kabir, Sharma, & Saxena, 2020). Less attention has been paid by researchers to the COVID-19 pandemic, stigmatism, psychological well-being, hope and religiosity and, and how these may impact on the patient's recovery.Method: A random sample consisted of 426 COVID-19 patients, who have resided in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they answered an online questionnaire contains four scales (Religiosity, hope, stigma, and well-being). The data collected from the study participants were analyzed quantitatively by using One-way ANOVA, Exploratory Factor Analysis EFA, Confirmatory Factor Analysis CFA, and Structural Equation Model (IBM SPSS statistics 21 and Amos v.25). Results: The results showed that there are statistical significant differences due to age in hope and well-being, in favor of the sample members belonging to the age group from 30 years old and over old, while there are no differences in religiosity and stigma due to age. As well as, there are no differences due to the education level in religiosity, hope, stigma and well-being. About the differences due to social status, there are statistical significant differences in well-being in favor of married group, while there are no differences in religiosity, hope and stigma due to social status. About the effect of income level in the study variables, the results showed that there are no differences due to income level in religiosity, hope, stigma and well-being. Moreover, the findings found that both religiosity and hope play an mediating role in the relationship between the latent variables stigma and psychological well-being.Conclusions: Religiosity and hope play a mediating role in the relationship between stigma associated with COVID-19 and psychological well-being. These results indicate a number of potential strategies to reduce the negative effects of the stigma associated with COVID-19 and to increase the level of psychological well-being among COVID-19 patients.