Fear at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: validation of the Arabic version of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire among Saudi-based respondents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented stress and fear throughout the world.

Aims

To evaluate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Saudi public, and to examine the performance of the Arabic version of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) scale.

Method

We conducted an online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of a sample of the Saudi public.

Results

The study included 347 participants, who reported significantly higher levels of distress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and somatisation compared with a normative sample. Females scored higher in terms of somatisation, depression and anxiety symptoms, and distress. Obtaining COVID-19 information from friends and relatives was associated with higher

SUBMITTER: Aljemaiah AI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7804080 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature