Author(s): Ghazala Imran, Sumbal Riaz Malik, Nageena Imran, Shahnila Tariq
The main aim of our study is to explore how expats living in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, coped with their stress during the times of COVID-19. We also determined the two kinds of stressors, a) Distress (the type of stress that causes great anxiety and pain and b) Eustress – the beneficial stress. A self-formulated online survey was conducted and participants in Riyadh were asked to fill in the information required. A total of 180 participants took part in the study to share their strategies of coping with stress during the pandemic. Results indicated that although participants were stressful, they still managed to cope with this pandemic generating healthy activity such as cooking new recipes, spending quality time with their family. As expats were not able to travel, they worried about their loved ones. For it, they connected with them through social media such as through WhatsApp, video calls or Facebook. Women were found to be more connected religiously and spend their time praying for everyone. With great amount of stress and anxiety due to this pandemic, development of coping strategies to keep themselves healthy and normal for them was witnessed as pivotal point for survival.