The COVID-19 pandemic has increased frustration among the Jamaican population, pushing many to resort to negative and unhealthy coping strategies, a recent survey by researchers from Northern Caribbean University (NCU) has found.
In a call to action, researchers have lobbied for policymakers to assess the findings to determine the scope and scale of intervention needed.
The survey, which was conducted June 5-19 across 14 parishes, found that about 86 per cent of 500 respondents experienced varying levels of frustration, while nearly 14 per cent said they did not.
With a margin of error of three per cent, the survey also identified factors related to the pandemic that sparked the rise in frustration (disappointment or dissatisfaction).
Significant triggers include people in the 26-33 age group, financial difficulties, dropping out of school, and limited social gatherings. The NCU research team noted that respondents in the 26-33 age group were more likely to become frustrated than those aged 18 to 25 years.
