Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en Predictors of Perceived Stress and Quality of Life among Women during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-sectional Study from Karaj, Iran COVID 19 Original Research Original Research Background: The emergence of the coronavirus disease of the 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran has markedly affected lives and taken a toll on Iranians’ mental health, especially in women. The current study investigated factors that contributed to both perceived stress and quality of life (Qol) among women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Karaj, Iran.    Methods: A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted between November 30, 2020, and January 30, 2021. A researcher-made questionnaire with 4 subscales, including information seeking, social support, primary appraisal, and secondary appraisal, was used.  Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were also applied. A total of 581 participants completed the study. The convenience sampling method was used in this study. Multiple mediation analyses were applied using pathway analysis.    Results: The mean age ± SD of the participants was 38.57±7.68 years, and 40.8% had a higher education than a high school diploma. Based on the final fitted model, higher perceived stress had a direct impact on mental QoL (β = 0.47). The Comparative Fit Index  (CFI), Incremental fit index (IFI), and  Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) were calculated as 1, and χ2/df was 4.87. Educational level and social support from both the direct and indirect pathway affected QoL. Social support affected both information-seeking behavior and secondary appraisal (β = 0.50: 95% CI, 0.38-0.59). Furthermore, information-seeking behavior and  secondary appraisal affected perceived stress. Perceived stress followed by educational level had the strongest and primary appraisal had the poorest indirect association with mental QoL.    Conclusion: In conclusion, primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, social support, educational level, perceived stress, and information-seeking behavior were correlated with higher levels of mental QoL among women. Social support and improving the situation appraisal can provide appreciated support to manage stress induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further assessment is needed to determine the vulnerable groups such as illiterate people.  <div> <div><div id="_com_1" uage="JavaScript"></div></div> </div> COVID-19, Iran, Stress, Quality of Life, Women 791 797 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7233-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Sara Esmaelzadeh smaelzadeh1360@gmail.com 200319475328460072565 200319475328460072565 No Reproductive Health Department, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Zohreh Mahmoodi zohrehmahmoodi2011@gmail.com 200319475328460072566 200319475328460072566 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Fatemeh Rajati f.rajati@kums.ac.ir 200319475328460072567 200319475328460072567 No Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Leili Salehi leilisalehi@abzums.ac.ir 200319475328460072568 200319475328460072568 Yes Department of Health Education and Promotion, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran