Stratified predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity in healthcare versus non-healthcare students during COVID-19: safe or stuck at home?

BACKGROUND: Individual mental health is known to be profoundly shaped by collective crises. In Lebanon, the COVID-19 pandemic hit with a backdrop of the capital's port explosion in a climate of sociopolitical divide and economic collapse. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the impact of these crises on the distress of students in healthcare professions (HCS) versus other university students in lockdown at home to better understand differential effect of trauma and stratified predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity in a seemingly homogenous group. METHOD: A sample of 211 university students was enrolled, including HCS (in hospitals) versus non-healthcare students (non-HCS) (locked down at home). Participants completed standardized scales assessing symptoms of PTSD (PCL-C), anxiety, depression (PHQ-4), internet addiction (IAT), subjective wellbeing (WHO-5), and coping behaviours. RESULTS: The findings showed that anxiety, depression, internet addiction and passive coping strategies were positively associated with PTSD symptoms. In non-HCS, internet addiction and mental distress were positively associated with PCL-C scores while WHO-5 negatively associated with PCL-C. For HCS, mental distress was associated with higher PCL-C scores whereas active coping strategies and older age were associated with lower PCL-C. CONCLUSION: Contextualizing results within similar socio-political landscape elucidates the complex interplay between external stressors, personal resources, and mental distress. Interventions to mitigate PTSD symptom severity in times of crises should be tailored to stratified groups based on their work-life settings to better account for differential risk factors of seemingly homogeneous populations.