Assessing the Mental Health Status of Young-Adult Jamaicans during the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Lasantia Grant Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Shelly Ann Whyte Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Shanesia Davis Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Zaria Jones Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Monique White Scholarship and Student Aid, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the lives of many young people across Jamaica since the country recorded its first case on March 10, 2020. Young people may experience stress and anxiety disorders when exposed to long periods of isolation.

Objective: This study seeks to determine if there has been a change in the mental health status of young adults in Jamaica since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The research design was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A web-based non-probability (convenience) sampling questionnaire survey was distributed among 521 respondents across the island, using Google Forms to collect the data.

Results: The findings revealed that of 521 respondents, 27.8% of females and 30.3% of males indicated good mental health. In addition to this, 38.2% of females and 28.5% of males indicated moderate mental health. Furthermore, 16% of females and 9.1% of males indicated poor mental health. These findings suggested that males have better mental health than females. The mental health scale category model is statistically significant (χ2 =17.674, P= 0.001).

Conclusions: This study aimed to identify whether there was a change in the mental health status of young adults in Jamaica since the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings, the study proved that the mental health status of young adults in Jamaica had remained the same despite the negative impacts of the pandemic. However, strategies to address the effects of the mental health status of Jamaican young adults is imperative in anticipation of a more significant degree of mental health challenges in the future as a result of the COIVD-19 pandemic.

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Published

2021-09-06

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2021): International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights & Transformations

Section

Articles