The Effect of Stress and Coping Strategies on Emotional Wellbeing and Social Function during the 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak in Karaj, Iran

To investigate the effect of perceived stress and coping strategies among adults during COVID-19 outbreak (May and July 2020) in Karaj, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 792 adults (aged ≥18 years) using convenience sampling method. The relationship between age, general health, perceived stress, primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, and coping strategies as independent variables, and social functioning and emotional health as dependent variables was evaluated using pathway analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS-19 and Lisrel software.

The mean age of the participants was 38.87±8.73. Among the variables directly associated with emotional wellbeing in men, emotional coping has the most positive association (B=0.13) and problem coping has the most negative relation(B=0.022) and secondary appraisal has the most negative association indirectly (B=0.04). The perceived stress has the most effect on the social function in men indirectly (B=0.21), and secondary appraisal has the most positive relationship with social function in men indirectly (B=0.11). Further, perceived stress has the most negative association with social function among women in direct route (B=0.088) and general health has the most positive relationship in this regard (B=0.014).

The perceived stress should be noticed and managed effectively to improve mental health. The emotion-focused coping can positively affect the emotional wellbeing and problem-focused coping negatively influences it.