Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered fear and distress among the public, thus potentiating the incidence rate of anxiety and depression. This study aims to investigate the psychological effect of quarantine on persons living in Morocco when the first COVID-19 cases were identified. The associations between anxiety, depression symptoms, and their predictors (sociodemographics, fatigue, and religious coping) were examined. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey, with a total of 1435 participants (≥18 years) recruited anonymously, was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (from 3 to 30 April 2020). A structured questionnaire was used to assess psychosocial factors, COVID-19 epidemic-related factors, and religious coping. Religious coping, fatigue, and depression, and anxiety were measured by Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. A generalized linear model (logistic regression) was used to determine the predictive factors of depression and anxiety. Results The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 43.0% (n = 621) and 53.0% (n = 766), respectively. Both were associated with female gender, household income decline, tracking COVID-19 news, and fear to contract COVID-19 (aOR = 1.36 to 2.85). Additionally, 32.0% (n = 453) and 26.0% (n = 372) reported severe physical fatigue, and mental fatigue, respectively. Both latter factors were significantly and positively associated with depression as well as with anxiety. Depressive and anxious patients used more negative religious coping, while positive religious coping was slightly associated with depression. Conclusion In this online survey of the general population in Morocco, anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic and psychosocial factors, such as female gender, income decline, infection fears, massive COVID-19 news exposure, negative religious coping, and fatigue were associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms. Psychosocial and financial support should be provided to the quarantined population.

Smartphones have become essential components of daily life, and research into the harmful effects of problematic smartphone use (PSU) on mental health is expanding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This issue has yet to be synthesized and critically evaluated. To find quantitative observational studies on the relationship between PSU and mental health in the MENA region, we developed a search equation and adapted it for four databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed during the selection process. This review included 32 cross-sectional studies and one cohort study. The available language was English. All identified studies published until 8 October 2021, were considered. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The studies enrolled 21,487 people and had low-to-moderate methodological quality. The prevalence of PSU ranged from 4.3 to 97.8 percent. The time factor, type of application used on the smartphone, and sociodemographic characteristics were the determinants of PSU. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly correlated with PSU. Epidemiological longitudinal studies that respect the quality of evidence are needed in all MENA countries to better plan and implement preventive measures against PSU.

Background Smartphones have become essential components of daily life, and research into the harmful effects of problematic smartphone use (PSU) on mental health is expanding globally. Although several recent studies have addressed the relationship between PSU and mental health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this issue has yet to be synthesized and critically evaluated. Methods To find quantitative observational studies on the relationship between PSU and mental health in the MENA region, we developed a search strategy based on a search equation and adapted it for four databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed during the selection process. This review included approximately 33 cross-sectional studies and one cohort study out of the 6423 studies identified. The only available language was English. All identified studies published until October 8th, 2021, were considered. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies, as we were interested in three mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety, and stress. Results The studies enrolled 21696 people and had low to moderate methodological quality. The prevalence of PSU ranges from 4.3 percent to 97.8 percent. The time factor (average duration of use per day, frequency of use, consultation during the night), type of application used on the smartphone, and socio-demographic characteristics were the determinants of PSU (age, gender, marital status). Depression, anxiety, and stress were all strongly correlated with PSU, with a stronger relationship between PSU and depression (0.164 ≤ r ≤ 0.996) than between PSU and anxiety (0.12 ≤ r ≤ 0.562) or stress (0.14 ≤ r ≤ 0.508). Conclusions PSU is a real public health issue because it is linked to mental illnesses and social dysfunctions that are a wearisome burden on society. As a result, more epidemiological studies, particularly longitudinal ones that respect the quality of evidence, are needed in all MENA countries to better plan, and implement preventive measures to avoid devastating complications for individuals and societies. Systematic review registration: an a priori protocol is registered on PROSPERO under the number CRD42022266732.

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