A study used an online cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of probable PTSD and the possible effect of the type and amount of media exposure on probable PTSD. 603 responses were recorded (74.0% females, mean age=29.2 ±10.4 years). They found that 33.0% of participants had scores more than 33 (threshold cut-off) on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised scale, and the younger participants particularly impacted, with avoidance being the most common appearing symptom. Gender (OR=25.95, p<.001), personal psychiatric history OR=7.48, p=.008), COVID-19 exposure (OR=16.48, p<.001), daily time spent on news and events related to COVID-19 on media (OR=17.02, p<.001), and COVID-19-related resource deprivation (OR=10.09, p<.001) were found to be related to the diagnosis of probable PTSD. A multivariate regression model was used to eliminate confounding variables, and they found that gender (OR=0.34; p<.001), hearing or discussing with another person the details of a person's illness or death due to COVID-19 (OR=1.53; p=.035), being not able to communicate with loved ones (OR=1.51; p=.031), difficulty obtaining personal supplies (OR=2.63; p=.003), total time spent on news and events related to COVID-19 on media per day (OR=0.63; p=.017), and being exposed to photos or narratives or other details about burial of COVID-19 Victims (OR=1.65; p=.011) was associated with probable PTSD.


Prevalence and predictors of PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a Tunisian community sample

Syracuse University

Villanova University

Smith College

The COVID-19 pandemic constituted a mass traumatic life event for many populations, creating severe psychological stressors that can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

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