What People In S’pore Are Worried About During Covid-19 According To New Survey

Troubled by the adverse effects of the ongoing epidemic?

Well, you’re far from being alone.

According to a new survey, the current coronavirus pandemic has proven to be much more than ‘just’ a worldwide disaster;

It has also become a form of stress for many Singaporeans and permanent residents, with majority suffering from one form of pandemic-induced anxiety or another.

Here’s What People In S’pore Are Worried About During Covid-19 According To New Survey

According to a study conducted by marketing communications agency Wunderman Thompson, the current coronavirus pandemic has caused three in four Singaporeans and permanent residents to experience some form of anxiety.

Apparently, the economy was the primary cause of anxiety among those who answered.

The study had polled 500 respondents between 29 June and 6 July. The results were unveiled on Thursday (24 September).

Around 78 per cent of those surveyed mentioned that they were concerned about economic issues, with a majority reportedly stressed over issues such as unemployment rates and the current state of the economy.

Meanwhile, health concerns also ranked high on the list, with 73 per cent of those in the study stating they were concerned about such issues.

Majority, it should be mentioned, were troubled about global pandemic diseases, such as the ongoing Covid-19.

Two Main Concerns

When it came to the ongoing Coronavirus, two primary concerns stood out:

The fear of catching the virus in public, and worries stemming from the long-term economic disruption.

According to The Straits Times, around 37 per cent expressed their concerns over their families and friends contracting the disease, as many as those who lived in terror of catching it themselves in public places.

Thirty-six percent were wary of catching the Coronavirus on public transport, while roughly 33 per cent feared being infected while taking a taxi or ride-hailing vehicle.

As for the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, 40 per cent expressed a worry that it would go on for a prolonged period of time.

A similar percentage dreaded a possible future wherein the economy would crash, while 30 per cent felt anxious over losing their jobs.

“Different groups are anxious about different things but what’s clear is people are anxious on multiple levels,” said Apac director at Wunderman Thompson Intelligence Chen May Yee.

“There’s the daily stress of worrying whether it’s risky to eat out or whether your job is safe. Meanwhile, (people) are also looking at the wider economy and bracing for what is yet to come.”

It’s Vital That We Deal With Such Fears

According to well-being and leadership coach Nitya Rao-Perera, it’s vital that respondents learn to handle such fears, as prolonged anxiety could lead to a number of conditions such as depression or burnout.

“People who have no history of mental health disorders can also fall into a bracket of being vulnerable to anxiety disorders, or higher levels of anxiety. What can innocently creep up as feelings of doom despair, being indecisive or unsure, can lead to something more complicated,” she said.

Apparently, there are three main strategies that help one to cope with anxiety arising from the Coronavirus.

Firstly, building up one’s self-efficacy – the feeling that you are taking control of your life and executing the necessary measures – is a must.

This means focusing on the things that you are able to control, rather than the things out of your jurisdiction.

“Covid-19 is not within our control. The way the economy is performing is not, the health of certain industries is not within our control. But how we manage ourselves, how we are reacting to it, all that is within our control. Self-efficacy is the first one and probably the most important coping resource to overcome anxiety,” she said.

Secondly, one needs to remember that life’s greatest lessons actually stem from the worst times.

“The more we take a stance that it’s okay to learn from the mistakes that we make… we can bring more reflection into our way of being, and be more compassionate with ourselves,” said Mrs Rao-Perera.

Last but not least, it is vital that we learn to reframe our interpretation of a situation, in order to view it in a more positive manner.

For instance, if someone misses out on a promotional offer due to Covid-19, he or she can see it as an opportunity to be less stressed or have more time for self-love.

“There are different ways that we can interpret the situations that we experience, and how we interpret reflects the anxiety that we will have.”

Economical Disaster

According to The Straits Times, Singapore’s economy had contracted by 13.2 per cent year on year in the second quarter.

In August, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced that Singapore has gone into a “deeper recession”.

And according to Channel News Asia, the number of retrenchments in the first half of the year is at 11,350.

This eclipses the 10,120 recorded during the SARS period.

So in a sense, you can that Singaporeans’ worries aren’t exactly unfounded.

The Covid-19 has certainly done us dirty. In more ways than one.

However, even so, it’s imperative that we do not let it get to us.

For anxiety is one thing, and depression quite another.

So as a collective whole, we should learn to deal with such fears, before they take control of us.

The Covid-19 is already detrimental enough; let’s not let our own minds take control of us too.

P.s. If you’re suffering from some form of anxiety, or are currently dealing with pandemic-induced depression, you can click here for advice on what to do.

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