Perceived Stress and General and Spiritual Coping Strategies among People during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Study

Background and purpose: In addition to public health concerns, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused psychological disorders such as anxiety, fear, depression, stigma, etc. The present study aimed at examining the perceived stress levels of people in COVID-19 pandemic, their coping strategies and the efficacy of each strategy in reducing stress. Materials and methods: This mixed-method online survey was performed in 246 Iranians aged 15-65 years old. In quantitative part, the level of stress was assessed and in qualitative part, coping strategies were examined through open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed in STATA software and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. Results: Moderate levels of perceived stress were seen in all samples (19.56±4.56). According to qualitative analysis, coping strategies included two themes: general coping and religious-spiritual coping. Generally, 67% of the participants reported using spiritual coping strategies during COVID-19 outbreak. The degree of efficacy of each coping strategy was estimated using a 1-10 scale which showed a significant difference between general coping (5.94±2.61) and spiritual coping (5.06±3.19) (P <0.05). Conclusion: Understanding coping strategies used by different age groups in both sexes and using them in public mental health programs helps policymakers not only in the COVID-19 pandemic but also in future outbreaks.