In this together: Psychological wellbeing of foreign workers in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mariapaola Barbato, Zayed University
Justin Thomas, Zayed University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

International Journal of Psychology

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated infection prevention and control measures (e.g. quarantine, lockdown and isolation), have had an adverse impact on mental health. To date, the mental health status and challenges of foreign workers during the pandemic have been neglected in the literature. This cross-sectional web-based survey assessed levels of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia among an international sample of foreign workers (n = 319) resident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The majority of participants were female (76%), European (69%) and highly educated (83% had a bachelor's or higher degree). Results indicate high rates of post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, especially among women, younger individuals, and those with a previous diagnosis of a psychological disorder. Additionally, foreign workers' perceptions of pandemic severity in their home nations (mild, moderate, severe) were positively correlated with their symptom levels of depression, anxiety and insomnia. Overall, these findings may help inform future public mental health strategy and pandemic preparedness plans with reference to safeguarding the psychological wellbeing of foreign workers.

ISSN

0020-7594

Publisher

Routledge

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Foreign workers, Post-traumatic stress

Scopus ID

85107976390

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Bronze: This publication is openly available on the publisher’s website but without an open license

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