engleski

Mental health of different groups of non- communicable disease patients and its relation to knowledge about COVID-19 and significant life events

This study examined the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 related knowledge in a sample of patients with different types of non- communicable diseases (respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other) in Croatia. 171 participants (84% women, 30% respiratory diseases patients, Mage=42.76) completed an online survey that was conducted from March 18 until March 23, 2020. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Optimism-Pessimism Scale and 8 questions about the novel coronavirus. Participants with respiratory disease were as informed, anxious, depressed, optimistic, and pessimistic as participants with other non-communicable diseases. Partic-ipants who had experienced a significant life-event in the week preceding the study reported higher levels of anxiety and depression than participants who had not experienced a significant life-event, while these groups of participants did not differ in the levels of optimism and pessimism. Depression and anxiety were predicted by experiencing a significant life-event, higher levels of pessimism, and lower levels of optimism, but anxiety was also predicted by higher knowledge about the COVID-19 symptoms. Optimism was also related to lower knowledge about the efficacy of nose rinsing. The findings of this study have a potential to encourage public health experts in creating tailored messages whilst also tak-ing into consideration the mental health of vulnerable groups of people exposed to other stressful life events.

COVID-19 related knowledge ; non-communicable disease ; anxiety ; depression ; optimism: pessimism

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