Relational Fear and Psychological Impact: A Cross-Sectional Study of Covid-19 Stressors among Male Patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global mental health crisis, yet the nature of pandemic-related stressors and their psychological impact varies across socio-cultural contexts. This study examined the relationship between specific COVID-19 stressors and psychological impact among patients in Karachi, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2021 involving 306 COVID-19 patients (88.2% male; mean age = 34.12) at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing 20 COVID-19-related stressors and 9 psychological impact items (anxiety and depression). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and linear regression. High levels of stress (75%) and psychological impact (65.6%) were observed. PCA identified relational and emotional stressors—particularly fear of infecting family members, irritability, and depressed mood—as the most prominent. Fear for family health emerged as the strongest psychological outcome. Regression analysis showed a strong and significant association between COVID-19 stress and psychological impact (R = 0.855, R² = 0.731, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that adverse psychological outcomes were driven primarily by concern for family rather than personal safety, reflecting culturally rooted relational responsibilities. Targeted mental health interventions and culturally sensitive public health strategies addressing familial and relational anxieties are therefore essential.