Psychological Distress And Psychological Coping Strategies Due To Covid-19 Among Residents Of Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Since the outbreak ofCOVID-19 in Huabei Province of China in December 2019, people have responded and psychologically coped in different ways with the pandemic. The objectives were to determine the extent to which the residents of Kasarani sub county, are psychologically distressed due to COVID-19pandemic; identify the psychological coping strategies used by the residents during the COVID-19 pandemic; establish whether there are gender and age differences in their coping strategies and levels of distress; and to explore the association between the psychological coping strategies and levels of distress. Brief Cope inventory and CORPD were used to assess the psychological coping strategies and the level of psychological distress respectively. An ex post facto research design was used. Stratified random sampling was applied to get the sample size. The sample frame was persons aged 15 to over 65 years. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and inferential analysis. The findings from the COVID-19 Related Psychological Distress (CORPD) showed the psychological distress score was averagely at 3.32 thus implying moderate level of psychological distress. The findings from the Brief COPE showed average scores of problem focused coping at 5.22; emotion focused at 3.55 and avoidant coping at 3.96.The respondents who used problem-focused and emotion-focused coping did not experience psychological distress whereas those who used avoidant coping experienced psychological distress. The study recommends empowerment with active coping strategies to the residents.