Fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD among Syrian refugee parents in Canada

Introduction: The high frequency of COVID-19 has had an impact on the psychological health of all countries and socioeconomic groups around the world, with refugees suffering the brunt of the burden. The aim was to assess the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD among Syrian refugee parents residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Methods: A convenience sample of 274 Syrian refugee parents residing in Ontario was recruited. Fear of COVID19 was measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Levels of depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Primary Care PTSD screen (PC-PTSD). Multiple Linear Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between FCV-19S and the DASS-21 subscales and PC-PTSD. Results: Severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were reported by 12.2%, 26.8%, and 9.7% of participants respectively, and 24.1% screened positive for PTSD. FCV-19S was associated with higher levels of stress (beta = 0.27, p = 0.006), anxiety (beta = 0.40, p < 0.001), depression (beta = 0.32, p = 0.001) and PTSD (beta = 0.04, p = 0.015). Discussion: Government initiatives should consider tackling fear concerning pandemics among Syrian refugee parents to help enhance their mental well-being.