Religious Coping During theCOVID-19 Pandemic: Gender, Occupational andSocio-economic Perspectives Among MalaysianFrontline Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Objective: At the dawn of the new decade of the 20th century, the world was taken abackby the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to study the nature of reli gious coping of frontline healthcare workers seen through the perspective of gender,socio-economic status, and occupation. Methods: An online-based study was carried out among frontline healthcare workersinvolved in the care of COVID-19 patients (n = 200). Sociodemographic data form and theBrief Religious Coping scale were used in this study. Results: There were more female healthcare workers (60.5%) and doctors (69.5% vs. 30.5%).Healthcare workers used more positive religious coping than negative religious coping(median score: 22 vs. 9). Positive religious coping was seen more in females (median score:23 vs. 21, P = .015). Non-doctors applied positive coping more than doctors (median score:26 vs. 21, P < .001). There were significant differences in positive religious coping scoresacross income groups, with the B40 group having the highest score (median score: 24).Post hoc pairwise comparison concluded that the B40 group had significantly higher posi tive religious coping scores than the M40 group. Conclusion: Positive coping was utilized more among female healthcare workers, non doctors, and the lowest socio-economic group. As prior literature has shown that positivereligious coping is desirable and has superior mental health outcomes, our findings showthat more effort should be channeled into enhancing positive religious coping, particu larly among male healthcare workers, doctors, and the middle and high socio-economicgroup.