The Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the General Population of Oman: A National Community-based Study

Abstract

Introduction: Despite evidence that that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in general poses unprecedented risks, it is unclearto what extent these consequences have affected the mental health of the general population. This study aims to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population in Oman and to associate the physical health status andpsychological impact. Methods: A cross-sectional online anonymous survey in which 831 adults from Oman’s general populationwere randomly sampled as per the inclusion criteria. The medical research and ethics commission approved the project. Data werecollected after obtaining informed consent from the study participants. The criteria of the American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was used to measure the psychological impact. Results: Among 831respondents in this study, only 4.2 % and 14.9 % of total participants reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. There is a statistically significant difference in psychological scores between males and females at the p < .05 level: F (1, 829) = 16.03, p <.001. As a result of this discovery, it appears that women are mentally affected by the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19epidemic has had a severe impact on the general population’s psychological health in Oman. This survey found that the global healthcrisis has a psychological impact on most of the adult population, regardless of their age. As a result, early detection, urgentmedical intervention, and counseling are required.