Korean J Psychosom Med.  2022 Dec;30(2):145-154. 10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.2.145.

Long-Term Impact of Stigma on Coping Strategies and Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in MERS Survivors

• Yoo Y
• Park HY
• Kim JL
• Lee JJ
• Lee H
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2538660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.2.145

Abstract

Objectives
：This study intends to assess the associations among perceived stigma at the time of infection, coping strategies adopted 12 months later and depressive and posttraumatic symptoms 24 months later in Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) survivors.
Methods
：A nationwide cohort study was conducted on 63 survivors of 2015 MERS outbreak. Demographic data, illness severity of MERS, depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms, coping strategies and MERS-related stigma were collected 12 and 24 months after the MERS outbreak, respectively.
Results
：Higher levels of perceived stigma at the time of outbreak were associated with higher levels of dysfunctional coping strategies after 12 months (p=0.003) and more severe depressive (p=0.058) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (p=0.011) after 24 months. Moreover, higher levels of dysfunctional coping strategies after 12 months were significantly associated with more severe depressive (p=0.002) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (p<0.001) after 24 months.
Conclusions
：Social stigma against people who have contracted an emerging infectious disease can leave a negative impact on the mental health of the survivors in the long term. In case of novel pandemics in the future, prompt rectification of stigma and promotion of adaptive coping strategies in survivors are needed.

Keyword

MERS-CoV; Social stigma; Depression; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Coping strategy