Perceived Stress and Coping Styles among the General Population in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines the stress levels, coping responses, and influence of adaptive and maladaptive coping styles on stress in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to the attendees of a pandemic-related awareness webinars. The questionnaire assessed demographic and clinical characteristics, coping strategies (the brief COPE inventory), and stress levels (the Perceived Stress Scale). A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictors of stress. The highest adaptive and maladaptive coping styles were reported for religion and self-distraction. Certain groups were independently more vulnerable to experience stress, including young-and middle-aged adults, females, students, and those with a low to-middle income, with a personal or familial history of mental conditions, and living with someone with COVID-19 in their close circle. Higher levels of stress were also predicted by lower levels of using positive coping styles, particularly positive reframing, planning, and returning to religion, and higher levels of negative coping styles, such as venting, self-blame, and denial. Future psychotherapeutic interventions through the media and digital solutions are warranted to mitigate and manage stress by targeting vulnerable groups, promoting active coping styles, and discouraging negative coping strategies.