Trauma-Related Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic In 59 Countries

Melissa M. Ertl, Stephen K. Trapp, Elisabet Alzueta, Fiona C. Baker, Paul B. Perrin, Sendy Caffarra, Dilara Yüksel, Daniela Ramos-Usuga, Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life like few other events in modern history, with differential impacts on varying population groups. This study examined trauma-related distress among 6,882 adults ages 18 to 94 years old in 59 countries during April to May 2020. More than two-thirds of participants reported clinically significant trauma-related distress. Increased distress was associated with unemployment; identifying as transgender, nonbinary, or a cisgender woman; being from a higher income country; current symptoms and positive diagnosis of COVID-19; death of a loved one; restrictive government-imposed isolation; financial difficulties; and food insecurity. Other factors associated with distress included working with potentially infected individuals, care needs at home, a difficult transition to working from home, conflict in the home, separation from loved ones, and event restrictions. Latin American and Caribbean participants reported more trauma-related distress than participants from Europe and Central Asia. Findings inform treatment efforts and highlight the need to address trauma-related distress to avoid long-term mental health consequences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)306-334
Number of pages29
JournalCounseling Psychologist
Volume50
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • disaster trauma
  • international research
  • pandemic
  • trauma-related distress

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