The Difficulties Experienced by Tradesmen According to the Situation of Closing Their Businesses During the Pandemic Period and Their Depression Status

Abstract

Background and Purpose: COVID-19, which continues to have a global impact, poses many challenges to small businesses. Due to the measures taken against the pandemic, tradesmen closed their small businesses and faced many difficulties. As a result of the difficulties experienced by the tradesmen, they have been adversely affected in terms of economic, social, and health factors. Based on these situations, the study was conducted to determine the depression level of the tradesmen during the pandemic, to determine the difficulties they experienced in their own words, and to determine its relationship with depression. Materials and Methods: The population of the cross-sectional study consisted of 1100 people working as tradesmen in the Bitlis city center. The sample of the study, 285 individuals, was reached by the simple random method. Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form" and "Beck Depression Inventory". Results: 17.2% of tradesmen have severe depression, and 37.9% have moderate depression symptoms. The tradesmen stated that they experienced difficulties such as family problems, laying off personnel, and experiencing physical and mental problems during the lockdown measures. Layoffs and family problems among business owners due to lockdown measures are more closely associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion: During the pandemic, the depression level of tradesmen was higher than that of the general population. Challenges, particularly family problems, have emerged that may increase the level of depression symptoms among business owners.