Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression Among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Restaurant Entrepreneurs Due to Thailand's COVID-19-Related Restrictions: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: COVID-19 has become a global pandemic. Since the Thai government announced its pandemic-related restrictions, economic indicators have inevitably been impacted. Micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs have adapted to the unexpected changes, undoubtedly requiring government assistance. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in MSME restaurant entrepreneurs after the government announced its COVID-19-related restrictions. Patients and
Methods: An online questionnaire was developed and distributed to MSME entrepreneurs' restaurants in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, in November 2021. Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (Thai HADS) were used to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with depression and anxiety, and the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for both variables was reported at a P-value < 0.05 for significance.
Results: In total, 181 MSME restaurant entrepreneurs responded to our online questionnaire in November 2021. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 12.2% and 11.6%, respectively. Participants with a family history of psychological disorders (OR 34.9, P-value 0.003), an underlying disease (OR 7.14, P-value 0.032), a high debt-to-income ratio (OR 73.75, P-value 0.007), or a low education level were more likely to have anxiety. Similarly, participants who had an underlying disease (OR 14.29, P-value 0.032) and lacked access to supportive measures from the government (OR 6.94, P-value 0.009) were more likely to suffer from depression.
Conclusion: The period of restrictive policies during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on MSME restaurant entrepreneurs' mental health. The factors that were significantly associated with anxiety were debt-to-income ratio and concern about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The factors that were significantly associated with depression included inadequate access to government aid. Hence, the government should focus on providing and allocating healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The period of restrictive policies being in place during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on MSME restaurant entrepreneurs’ mental health.

The factors that were significantly associated with anxiety were debt-to-income ratio and concern about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The factors that were significantly associated with depression included inadequate rights to access government aid.

Governments should prioritize providing and allocating healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for vulnerable groups such as MSME entrepreneurs with pre-existing medical conditions, a family history of psychological disorders, or a high debt-to-income ratio.

Introduction

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020.1 Many governments implemented measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, lockdowns,2 and providing vaccinations3 aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. Economic indicators such as household income, urban job loss, reduced market interaction, and labor market activity, including global supply chains, have inevitably been impacted, resulting in widespread business disruptions since the measures were implemented.4,5 Although Thailand was relatively successful in containing the first wave of the pandemic in 2020,6 the country has been experiencing an uncontrollable resurgent second outbreak since early 2021. Due to the negative economic impact of the previous complete lockdown, the government adopted a targeted strategy, locking down specific areas and tracing positive cases.7 As a result, although Thailand’s response to COVID-19 was effective in containing the disease’s spread, it fell short of addressing the multiple dimensions of the crisis, including its economic and social consequences.8

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are an important driver of Thailand’s economy. According to a recent report, MSMEs accounted for 69% of the Thai labor market. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, MSME entrepreneurs have adapted to unexpected changes in consumer behavior, product safety, social isolation, and the government’s disease prevention policy. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) and other agencies financially assisted MSME entrepreneurs by implementing policies that encourage entrepreneurs nationwide to register and take advantage of the government’s stimulus packages.9 Supportive policies include soft loan facilities for MSMEs, debt restructuring with buy-back options, cash transfers to employees covered by the social security system, and a half-and-half co-payment scheme (the government subsidizing 50% of receipts).10 Most entrepreneurs reported that they had shifted their focus to online promotion and 79.3% of MSMEs have adapted to accepting online payments; however, a recent report revealed that MSMEs’ GDP fell by 3.3% in the first quarter of 2020, particularly in the hospitality and food services sector, which fell by 21.1%.9,11 According to a recent study, entrepreneurs’ stress levels increased significantly during the pandemic, with 72% developing mental illness and 30% struggling with anxiety and depression, thus increasing their risk of developing general anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).12 Entrepreneurs must overcome numerous obstacles for their businesses to stay afloat,13 and so, the ability to receive government assistance is necessary.14

Therefore, the present study evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression in MSME entrepreneurs after the announcement of the government’s restriction policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we focused on the restaurant sector because it was the most affected by the restrictions.

Methods

Study Design and Setting, and Participants

We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study with MSME restaurant entrepreneurs in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, who were at least 18 years old and had never been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

Data Collection and Questionnaire

An online questionnaire for the survey participants was developed and responses were collected via Google Forms in November 2021. The questionnaire was divided into five sections—demographic data, business information, psychosocial information, government support measures, and mental status. The following characteristics of entrepreneurs were collected: gender, age, religion, marital status, income, expenses, level of education, drinking and smoking habits, medical history, medication use, family history of mental disorders, and family violence. The second section collected business-related information, such as primary occupation, revenue, debt-to-income ratio, adaptability, and financial liquidity. The third section elicited data related to their psychosocial well-being, including health insurance, family members with COVID-19, stressors, and coping mechanisms. The fourth section sought to collect data on their participation in the government’s assistance programs, to assess factors such as barriers to accessing the government’s economic stimulus packages or health care resources.

The final section is the primary objective of this study, which was to assess participants’ anxiety and depression levels using the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Thai HADS).15 The Thai HADS has been evaluated for reliability (alpha = 0.89), sensitivity (MDD = 85.7%, GAD = 100%), and specificity (MDD = 91.3%, GAD = 86.7%), and has been widely used in previous research.16,17 It is a fourteen-item scale with seven items each for the anxiety and depression subscales. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the highest level of anxiety or depression. A total subscale score of more than 11 points indicates a significant MDD or GAD diagnosis.

The questionnaire was distributed to MSME restaurant entrepreneurs with the permission of the Songkhla MSMEs union via online platforms such as direct email messages and the Line instant messaging application. Google’s cloud platform was used to collect and encrypt the data. All questionnaire records were fully computerized and accessible only to the principal investigator.

Statistical Analysis

The analyses were conducted using R 4.1.2 and the epiDisplay package. To describe categorical variables, the baseline characteristics of the participants were calculated and expressed in terms of numbers and percentages. The prevalence of anxiety and depression using the Thai HADS was calculated, resulting in binary data with a cut-off of adjusted odds ratio of more than 11 points for each domain. The binary data from the Thai HADS were then classified into variables, and the relationships between the variables were analyzed using multiple logistic regression for the anxiety and depression domains. The adjusted odds ratio for both the depression and anxiety variables and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. Statistical significance was considered when P-values were < 0.05.

Results

Out of 558 MSME restaurant entrepreneurs in the Songkhla province, we enrolled 181 entrepreneurs who responded to the online questionnaire. Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of participants: 63% were female, 43.9% of them were aged below 30, and 62.6% were married. Most participants held bachelor’s degrees, and their monthly income and expenses ranged between 15,000 and 29,999 baht. Most participants had no medical conditions or family history of psychological disease. However, those who smoked and drank alcohol accounted for 89.5% and 64.6%, respectively. Table 2 shows the prevalence of anxiety and depression in participants during the period of restrictions using the Thai HADS score.

Table 1

Baseline Characteristics of MSME Restaurant Entrepreneurs

Characteristics	No. (%)
Gender
- Male	65 (35.9)
- Female	114 (63)
- Other gender	2 (1.1)
Age
- Below 31 years old	79 (43.9)
- 31 to 40 years old	61 (33.9)
- Above 40 years old	40 (22.2)
Marital status
- Single	61 (34.1)
- Married	112 (62.6)
- Divorced or separated	6 (3.4)
Average income per month (Bath)
- Below 15,000	40 (22.1)
- 15,000–29,000	60 (33.1)
- 30,000–49,999	25 (13.8)
- Above 50,000	30 (16.6)
- No response	26 (14.4)
Education level
- No education	2 (1.1)
- Elementary school	2 (1.1)
- Junior high school	12 (6.6)
- Senior high school	13 (7.2)
- Diploma vocational certificate	7 (3.9)
- Bachelor’s degree or higher	140 (77.3)
- No answer	5 (2.8)
Alcohol drinking status
- Drinking	117 (64.6)
- None	57 (31.5)
- No answer	7 (39)
Smoking status
- Smoking	162 (89.5)
- None	18 (9.9)
- No answer	1 (0.6)
Medical conditions
- None	152 (83.9)
- Diabetes mellitus	7 (3.9)
- Hypertension	12 (6.6)
- Dyslipidemia	10 (5.5)
- Asthma	2 (1.1)
- Cardiac disease	1 (0.6)
- Chronic kidney disease	1 (0.6)
- Cancer	1 (0.6)
Family history of psychological disease
- Present	13 (7.2)
- Absent	168 (92.8)
Family violence
- None	151 (85.3)
- Mild	18 (10.2)
- Moderate	7 (4)
- Severe	1 (0.6)

Table 2

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Using the Thai HADS Among MSME Restaurant Entrepreneurs

Mental Illness	Status	No. (%)
Anxiety	Normal	159 (81.8)
	Positive	22 (12.2)
Depression	Normal	160 (88.4)
	Positive	21 (11.6)

Table 3 illustrates the relationships between anxiety and factors associated with the government’s restriction policies using multiple logistic regression analysis. The following were significantly associated with anxiety: those with a family history of psychological disorders, a medical condition, a history of substance abuse to cope with anxiety, a high debt-to-income ratio, a low education level, and those who expressed concerns about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Participants with a family history of psychological disorders were more likely to experience anxiety (OR 34.9, P-value 0.003), as were those with a medical condition (OR 7.14, P-value 0.032). Participants who were concerned about obtaining resources and securing a hospital bed for COVID-19 were at an increased risk of anxiety (OR 5.26, P-value 0.038). Additionally, those who used substances to cope with anxiety were at a higher risk of developing anxiety (OR 8.59, P-value 0.019). Anxiety was more common in those with a high debt-to-income ratio (OR 73.75, P-value 0.007). In contrast, participants with a bachelor’s degree or higher had a lower risk of anxiety (OR 0.1, P-value 0.09).

Table 3

Factors Associated with Anxiety Among MSME Restaurant Entrepreneurs Using Multiple Logistic Regression

Factor	Anxiety
	Crude OR (95% CI)	Adjusted OR (95% CI)	P-value
History of psychological disorder in family (reference: absent)
- Present	18.81 (4.81, 73.55)	34.94 (3.36, 363.58)	0.003*
Medical condition (reference: absent)
- Present	9.09 (0.03, 0.36)	7.14 (0.02, 0.84)	0.032*
Using substances to cope with anxiety (reference: none)
- Present	3.42 (0.95, 12.33)	8.59 (1.43, 51.66)	0.019*
Education level (reference: lower than a bachelor’s degree)
- Bachelor’s degree or higher	0.23 (0.08, 0.64)	0.1 (0.02, 0.56)	0.009*
Concerns regarding COVID- 19 prevention and treatment (reference: none)
- Concerns about obtaining resources and securing a hospital bed	3.6 (1.29, 10.06)	5.67 (1.1, 29.35)	0.038*
Debt- to- income ratio (ref: lower debt- to- income ratio)
- High	8 (0.97, 66.09)	73.75 (3.27, 1665.63)	0.007*
- Approximately equal	4.26 (0.84, 21.51)	13.26 (0.93, 189.74)	0.057

Note: *P < 0.05 (P-value using Wald’s test).

The results showed that depression was associated with having an underlying disease as well as insufficient rights to access government support. Table 4 illustrates the OR of the factors. Participants with a prior medical condition faced an increased risk of depression (OR 14.29, P-value 0.032). Additionally, the risk of depression increases in those with insufficient access to government support (OR 6.94, P-value 0.009).

Table 4

Factors Associated with Depression Among MSME Restaurant Entrepreneurs Using Multiple Logistic Regression

Factor	Depression
	Crude OR (95% CI)	Adjusted OR (95% CI)	P-value
Barriers to access government aid (reference: absent)
- Present	5.48 (1.71, 17.54)	6.94 (1.64, 29.37)	0.009*
Medical condition (reference: absent)
- Present	4.35 (1.31, 14.28)	14.29 (2.63, 100)	0.032*
Adapting business during the COVID- 19 pandemic (reference: absent)
- Present	2.45 (0.9, 6.62)	3.22 (0.97, 10.72)	0.057

Note: *P < 0.05 (P-value using Wald’s test).

Discussion

Statement of Principal Findings

The period of restrictive policies being in place during the pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health of MSME restaurant entrepreneurs in our study setting. Our findings indicate that approximately 12% of MSME restaurant entrepreneurs in Songkhla suffered from anxiety and depression during COVID-19. Participants with a family history of psychological disorders, an underlying disease, a high debt-to-income ratio, or a low education level were more likely to have anxiety. Similarly, participants who had an underlying disease and lacked access to government support were more likely to suffer from depression.

Interpretation Within the Context of the Existing Literature

Our study found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression could have been influenced by several factors during the COVID-19 situation, similar to other studies.18–21

Individuals with a family history of psychological disorders and medical conditions were at an increased risk of anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Consistent with other studies,19,20 vulnerable people at risk of mental illness were identified during the COVID-19 period. Entrepreneurs who were diagnosed with medical conditions during the pandemic expressed distress when they realized that adapting to new business conditions made it more difficult to continue their businesses,12 which may have resulted in an increased risk of mental health problems.

MSME restaurant entrepreneurs with a high debt-to-income ratio had a significantly increased risk of anxiety (OR 73.75, P-value 0.007) compared to those with a low debt-to-income ratio. This finding is consistent with a systematic review,22 which discovered that participants who reported being in debt experienced the greatest level of anxiety. Despite the fact that the government has attempted to institute policies that provide significant financial assistance, this appears to be a sizable and complicated issue.10 However, our study showed that higher education might help entrepreneurs cope with their stress and anxiety, similar to a previous study.23

Concerns about obtaining resources and securing a hospital bed for COVID-19 treatment increased the risk of anxiety (OR 5.26, P-value 0.038). During the pandemic, demand for sanitizers, masks, and other protective agents increased, and thus, a shortage of these items could cause significant stress and anxiety.18,24 The restrictions on mobility and physical activity during the pandemic may also make hospitalization more difficult and lead to anxiety.25

Using substances to cope with stress increases one’s risk of developing anxiety (OR 18.81, P-value 0.003). According to prior studies,26,27 anxiety disorders and substance use disorders frequently coexist, and this is especially common during the pandemic. A pandemic is an environmental factor that can encourage people to channel their anxiety and stress into substance abuse.28 However, our research found that this coping method may not be effective. As a result of the government’s policy of prohibiting night parties and limiting alcohol consumption, community interaction was inhibited. Because most people use substances in their homes, their feelings of fear, loneliness, anxiety, and stress may have been stimulated.26,29

Among MSME restaurant entrepreneurs, a lack of government support appeared to increase the risk of depression. Those who were unable to obtain government assistance were more prone to depression (OR 6.94, P-value 0.003). This finding corroborates a previous study conducted on the general population in Ghana,30 which reported that low levels of government support were associated with increased rates of depression and mental distress.

Strengths and Limitations

Our study is the first to investigate the mental health of restaurant entrepreneurs after the government’s announcement of COVID-19-related restrictions in Thailand. Our findings provide information that the government can directly implement, with a focus on MSME restaurant entrepreneurs.

Due to the study’s small sample size, certain potentially significant factors, such as adapting the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, were found to be insignificant (OR 3.22, P-value 0.057), also resulting in a wide 95% CI for other factors. However, we focused on real pandemic situations that affect actual economic sectors, as several restaurants were closed during our survey. Additionally, because this is a cross-sectional study, certain causes and effects cannot be explained, such as the outcome in those with a family history of psychological illnesses or a history of substance misuse to cope with anxiety. In fact, factors in the population should be measured before and after the policy implementation and compared OR between the normal situation and the policy implementation period.

Implications for Policy, Practice, and Research

The government should place more focus on providing and allocating healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, an increasing number of governments should provide aid for healthcare or modify and extend criteria for more comprehensive assistance. The government should also implement more surveillance for mental illness in vulnerable groups such as MSMEs who have medical conditions or a higher debt-to-income ratio. The government should provide adequate business support to MSMEs to help them manage their businesses and mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on their mental health. Similar to OSMEP,11 our study found that the primary challenges and barriers to obtaining government assistance faced by MSMEs were ineligibility, followed by delays, validation errors, and bureaucratic procedures associated with the relief measure system.

Conclusion

The period of restrictive policies being in place during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on MSME restaurant entrepreneurs’ mental health. The factors that were significantly associated with anxiety were debt-to-income ratio and concern about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The factors that were significantly associated with depression included inadequate access to government aid. The government focus more on providing and allocating healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.