Coping Strategies as Predictors of COVID-19 related Anxiety among General Physicians of Faisalabad

Abstract

Emergence of COVID-19 pandemic created numerous physical and psychosocial upheavals for all. Specifically, health care professionals are at great risk of being contaminated by this life-threatening virus; consequently, they may prone to fear and anxiety related to COVID-19 situation. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the coping strategies as predictors of COVID-19 in general physicians of Faisalabad. The present correlational study was done on general physicians working in the outpatient departments of public and private sector hospitals of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Demographic Information Form, Brief Cope Scale and COVID-19 related Anxiety Scale were used to meet the present objectives. Multiple regression analysis revealed  active coping (? = -.247, t(118) = -2.446, p < .05), venting (? = .332, t(118) = 3.959, p < .001), religion (? = -.274, t(118) = -3.058, p < .01), emotional support (? =.207, t(118) = 2.085, p < .05), behavioral disengagement (? = .336, t(118) = 3.873, p < .001), humor (? = -.199, t(118) = -2.659, p < .01) and substance use (? = .363, t(118) = 4.158, p < .001) as significant predictors of COVID-19 related anxiety in general physicians. Three types of coping strategies seemed effective in overcoming COVID-19 related anxiety among general physicians. However, venting, behavioral disengagement, emotional support and substance abuse may decrease the COVID-19 related anxiety, if are used less by general physicians at work. The present findings have implications for general physicians who need to use coping strategies which may effectively reduce their anxiety associated with COVID-19 situation.