Factors That Influenced Coping With COVID-19 During the Pandemic in Botswana

This paper forms part of the broader Global South study, Personal and Family Coping with COVID-19 in the Global South, which examines psychosocial and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the pandemic posed significant psychological, social, and economic challenges, with important implications for preparedness for future public health crises. This study investigates how adults in Botswana coped during the pandemic, focusing on psychosocial factors such as boredom, loneliness, anxiety, well-being, and concerns related to health and finances. A total of 422 adults participated in an online survey assessing coping levels (coping well/coping somehow vs. not coping). Measures included the Short Boredom Proneness Scale, Relationship Quality Index, WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 76% of participants reported coping to some extent during the pandemic. Bivariate analyses showed that coping was significantly associated with anxiety, exposure to COVID-19-related media, financial and health concerns, boredom, loneliness, and overall wellbeing. In the multivariable model, higher anxiety was associated with a lower likelihood of coping (AOR = 0.513; p < 0.01), while participants reporting financial concerns were more likely to cope (AOR = 2.188; p < 0.05). These findings highlight the complex relationship between psychological distress and socio-economic vulnerability during public health emergencies and underscore the need for integrated interventions to strengthen mental health support and financial resilience.