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Corona Virus Disease, 2019 (COVID-19) caused multiple problems ranging from economic insecurity and social isolation to psychological distress and fear of unknown. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship of psychological distress and coping during the first and second wave of COVID-19. Further, it investigated how different age groups experienced psychological distress and coped during both waves of COVID-19. A correlational, cross-sectional research design was used for the study. Convenient and snowball sampling strategy was used to collect data during the first and second wave of COVID-19. Data consisted of 500 adults (i.e., 139 men and 361 women) in the 1st, and 500 adults (i.e., 168 men and 332 women) in the 2nd wave of COVID-19. Age range of the sample was 18 to 55 years. Two scales i.e., Distress Questionnaire and Coping Scale were used to collect data through online survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results indicate that psychological distress and coping were negatively related during the both waves of COVID-19. The relationship was significant during the first wave. However, it was found not to be significant during the second wave. Younger age group experienced significantly more psychological distress but used less coping. Increased coping reduced psychological distress in the first wave of COVID-19 when there was little information available on pandemic. However, coping did not help much decreasing psychological distress when living in the same stressful situation for a prolonged period and having more knowledge on pandemic (2nd wave of COVID-19). Younger age group were more vulnerable to experience psychological distress; however, they used less coping. There should be policy initiatives to provide psychological aid to adults, especially the younger population to help them learn healthy coping strategies to deal with stress.

Keywords: COVID-19, Psychological Distress, Coping, Epidemic, First Wave of COVID-19, Second Wave of COVID-19.