Show simple item record

AuthorMoalla, Mariem
AuthorReagu, Shuja
AuthorAlabdulla, Majid
AuthorKhan, Yasser Saeed
AuthorTakish, Ziad
AuthorAl-Musfir, Tumadher
AuthorEmadie, Buthaina Al
AuthorElwerfellie, Manal Matoug
AuthorNarasimhan, Srinivasan
AuthorNazzal, Hani
Available date2024-03-01T08:49:54Z
Publication Date2023-06-01
Publication NamePsychiatry International
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint4020016
CitationMoalla, M., Reagu, S., Alabdulla, M., Khan, Y. S., Takish, Z., Al-Musfir, T., ... & Nazzal, H. (2023). A Study of Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qatar. Psychiatry International, 4(2), 136-146.‏
ISSN2673-5318
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85177875293&origin=inward
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/52533
AbstractBackground: There is clear evidence showing an increase in mental health symptoms along with an increased demand for mental health services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to determine the rates of elevated anxiety symptoms in children during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Qatar. It also explored any correlated factors. Method: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study with 199 participants (children aged 6–16 years) consulting a dental care center. We used the original English version as well as a previously validated Arabic version of the Parent Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale to measure anxiety symptoms. Results: A total of 29.6% (n = 59) of our sample met the respective elevated cut-off score for overall anxiety disorder. The largest group among the children was elevated levels of physical injury fears 37.6% (n = 75), followed by Social Phobia 36.1% (n = 72). Younger children showed significantly higher scores for total anxiety, separation anxiety, physical injury fears, and generalized anxiety score. Among the gender groups, females reported significantly higher scores of General anxiety disorder. When comparing natives to expatriates, expatriates showed higher scores for total anxiety, physical injury fears score, social phobia score, and generalized anxiety. Conclusions: Overall, this study shows increased rates of clinically elevated anxiety symptoms in children during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Qatar. Younger children, females, and expatriates were more vulnerable to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights the specific psychological vulnerability of this population group during major health crises like the current pandemic.
Languageen
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Subjectadolescent
anxiety disorders
child
COVID-19 pandemic
TitleA Study of Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qatar
TypeArticle
Pagination136-146
Issue Number2
Volume Number4
dc.accessType Open Access


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record