FEAR OF COVID-19 AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG ADULT POPULATION OF SIALKOT, PAKISTAN: A SOCIOECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Author Name: 1 Natasha Kanwal 2. Ghulam Fouzia

Volume: 01 &  Issue:

Country: Pakistan

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2021-33268221/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. University of Sialkot, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Aim of current study was to find out the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress among adult population of Sialkot - Pakistan. Participants of the study comprised all the adults both males and females, within the age range 20-50 years. Sample of (N=240) was taken by using snowball sampling technique. Two standardized scales (i) Fear of COVID-19 Scale by Ahorsu et al. (2020) and (ii) Psychological distress Scale by Kessler et al(1992) were utilized for measuring the variables. Psychometric properties of both scales showed good reliability as (α = .88) for Fear of COVID-19 scale and (α =.92) for Psychological Distress scale. Mean and standard deviation were calculated using descriptive statistics. Pearson’s Correlational Coefficient was employed to find the relationship between both variables which suggested a good correlation of (r = 0.51, P< .05). To test the hypothesis for gender differences Independent Sample t-test was employed. Results showed a difference in mean values of scores among both groups as (M= 21.1 and M= 19.6) simultaneously on the levels of Fear of COVID-19 and (M=25.1 and M=27.5) on levels of Psychological Distress. One way ANOVA test analyzed the difference on levels of Psychological distress due to demographics, socioeconomic status and monthly income. Results revealed higher level of psychological distress among people belonging to lower socioeconomic status and with low monthly income.

Key words: Fear of COVID-19, Psychological distress, Socioeconomic perspective.