Assessing Distress Tolerance and whether this Influences Fear of Contracting the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Jamaicans

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tiffania Anderson Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Ayisha Jones Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Jessica Jones Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Toni-Ann Richards 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.
  • Dian Russell Parkes Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: Some people cannot tolerate certain living conditions, resulting in their fear of the outcome of life.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to 1) assess the degree of distress tolerance of certain living conditions among Jamaicans during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, 2) identify the level of fearamong Jamaicans of contracting COVID-19, and 3) ascertain whether their degree of distress tolerance affected their fear of contracting COVID-19.

Methods: A quantitative research method design served to address the research objective. Using a convenience sampling method, the study population consisted of 1093 persons who participated in the study from different parishes across Jamaica. Researchers used Google Forms to collect the data, which was transferred to Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25.0 for further data analysis.

Findings: Jamaicans level of distress tolerance is moderately high during the COVID-19 pandemic (42.8±10.3, 95%CI: 42.2-43.4, out of 75.0), with Kingston and St. Andrew parish accounting for 50% (n=98) of the respondents. Most of the sampled respondents feared contracting COVID-19 (n=559), while those who were not fearful were n=534 of the total respondents.

Conclusion: Although Jamaicans are dealing with a communicable disease pandemic, their distress tolerance is aiding in living condition due to COVID-19.

Downloads

Published

2022-02-10

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2022): International Journal of Recent Advances in Psychology & Psychotherapy [ISSN: 2581-4052]

Section

Articles