The role of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis in insomnia and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the Lebanese population: A cross-sectional assessment

Abstract

Based on an online cross-sectional survey, this study aimed to evaluate the role of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and economy-related factors in post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and sleep in a sample of the general Lebanese population using the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist. The online survey was conducted between May 10, and May 20, 2020, and 502 Lebanese adults who have access to the internet were enrolled. Results highlighted that positive correlates of PTSS were fear of COVID-19, female gender, and waterpipe smoking; negative correlates were higher family satisfaction, higher financial wellness, older age, having access to healthcare, and never having to work. When including insomnia as an independent variable to explain PTSS, the model did not substantially change. Positive correlates of insomnia included fear of poverty, fear of COVID-19, violence at home, the number of dependent children, having a job, and having a chronic disease. Conversely, higher family satisfaction and financial wellness were associated with lower likelihood of insomnia. When entering PTSS, insomnia remained positively associated with fear of poverty, PTSS, and violence at home. However, fear of COVID-19 was no longer associated with insomnia. We concluded that both the fear of COVID-19 and the economic crisis are correlated with PTSS and insomnia.