Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread mental health problems, with stress affecting a large porportion of the global population. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the need for post-pandemic mental health services, this umbrella review was conducted to accurately estimate the prevalence of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched for published meta-analyses using relevant keywords, such as prevalence, stress, COVID-19, and Meta-analysis up to January 1, 2025. Additional manual searches were performed in selected journals and through Google Scholar to identify further relevant articles. A random-effects model was used for the analyses. All analyses were conducted using STATA 17 software. RESULTS: Of 3697 records screened, 45 meta-analyses were included. The pooled prevalence of stress was 41% [95% CI: 36–45] with high heterogeneity (I(2): 93.22%). The highest prevalence was observed in patients (56% [49–63]) and health-care workers (45% [38–52]). The prevalence of stress was higher in females (40% [18–63]) compared with males (27% [3–50]). In terms of severity, the highest percentage was related to moderate 29% [7–50], mild 24% [6–41], and severe 13% [5–21]. CONCLUSIONS: Stress was highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among patients, healthcare workers, pregnant womens, and students. Policy responses should prioritize funding, advocacy and system-level interventions to mitigate the mental health impact of pandemics and strengthen resilience in preparation for future public health crises.