Stress due to Travel Ban for Pandemic during Vacation among Expatriates of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: The government of Saudi suspended international flights for an indefinite period temporarily to
many countries after the World Health Organization announcement of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)
as a pandemic. Saudi expatriates used to visit their native country during summer vacation. However, this
pandemic crisis is generating stress to the expatriates. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the stress due
to the travel ban in the pandemic crisis among expatriates of Saudi Arabia and associate the demographic
variables with stress.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2020 in the Al-Ahsa region
of Saudi. Totally 264 expatriates, who met the inclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling
technique. The data collected through a structured questionnaire and ten points perceived stress scale (PSS)
using the electronic method. The collected data were analysed by applying descriptive and inferential
statistics using SPSS 20.0.
Results: Among 264 expatriates, 25(9.5%) were low stressed, 157(59.5%) were moderately stressed, and
82(31%) were severely stressed. The findings revealed that females faced higher stress than males(p<0.01)
and married than unmarried (p<0.001). The expatriates felt more stressed (p<0.001) when their dependents
stayed outside the kingdom. There was a significant association between age, occupation, nationality, and
family type with the level of stress (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The level of stress was high among expatriates due to the travel ban. There is a need for
psychological counselling and support. Pandemic control and safe international travel access can be the
future solution to reduce stress.