Anxiety and Use of Coping Strategies in Latvian Medical Residents during COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Boriss Butorins (Speaker)
  • Aļona Počopko (Co-author)
  • Vrubļevska, J. (Co-author)

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Poster presentation

Description

During the Covid-19 pandemic level of psychological stress has increased in general population, as well as in student and medical doctor population. Anxiety disorders are ranked as the sixth largest contributor to non-fatal health loss globally. The aim of study was to investigate anxiety symptoms and coping strategies in residents in Latvia and to evaluate connection to Covid-19 related factors.. Residents in Latvia were asked to complete self-reported online questionnaire, including questions about demographics, residency and Covid-19 pandemic, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-items and The Coping Orientation of Problem Experience inventory. Data was collected April through November 2022 and analysed using Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient.. In study participated 142 medical residents, mean age 29.4 (SD=4.5), 80.3% where female. Significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7≥10) were reported by 28.2%. We found statistically significant connection between significant anxiety symptoms and active coping (U=1467.0 p=0,008), planning (U=1454.5 p=0.007), positive reinterpretation and growth (U=1323.5 p=0.001), focus on and venting of emotions (U=1294.0 p=0.001), behavioural disengagement (U=1128.0 p=0,000), mental disengagement (U=1480.5 p=0.010) and alcohol-drug disengagement (U=1606.5 p=0.031). Correlation with anxiety score was statistically significant and negative for positive reinterpretation and growth (r=-0.322, p=0.000), active coping (r=-0.256, p=0.002) and planning (r=-0.241, p=0.004). Correlation with anxiety score was statistically significant and positive for behavioural disengagement (r=0.429, p=0.000), focus on and venting of emotions (r=0.401, p=0.000), alcohol-drug disengagement (0.300, p=0,000) and mental disengagement (r=0.195, p=0.020). Data shows that most of participants as a coping strategy preferred (COPE≥8) planning (11.79, SD=2.62), active coping (11.71, SD=2.26), positive reinterpretation and growth (11.67, SD=2.21) and mental disengagement (10.16 SD=1.86).. Results show, that third of participants reported significant anxiety symptoms. Most of coping strategies were connected with significant anxiety symptoms and some showed medium correlation with anxiety score. Residents mostly prefer to use coping strategies that negatively correlated with anxiety.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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