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Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Compliance with Precautionary Measures: Age and Sex Matter
Open accessAbstract
Effective management of the global pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (also known as COVID-19), resulted in the implementation of severe restrictions in movement and enforcement of social distancing measures. This study aimed to understand and characterize the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population and to identify risks and protective factors that predict changes in mental health status. In addition, the study investigated compliance with precautionary measures (PM) to halt the spread of the virus. The online anonymous survey collected information on sociodemographic data, compliance with PM, quality of life (QOL), and mental health via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A total of 1642 adult participants (71.6% women, 28.4% men) completed the survey in the European island country, Cyprus. A large percentage (48%) reported significant financial concerns and 66.7% significant changes in their QOL. About 41% reported symptoms associated with mild anxiety; 23.1% reported moderate-severe anxiety symptoms. Concerning depression, 48% reported mild and 9.2% moderate-severe depression symptoms. Women, younger age (18–29), student status, unemployment status, prior psychiatric history, and those reporting greater negative impact on their QOL, were at higher risk for increased anxiety and depression symptoms (p < 0.05). The youngest age group and males also reported lower levels of compliance with PM. Higher compliance with PM predicted lower depression scores (p < 0.001) but higher anxiety for measures related to personal hygiene. The results of this study provide important data on the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and QOL and identify a variety of personal and social determinants that serve as risks and protective factors. Furthermore, it has implications for policy makers demonstrating the need for effective mental health programs and guidance for the implementation of PM as a public health strategy.
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“The levels of clinically significant anxiety and depression observed in this sample of healthcare professionals are higher than those reported in the general Cypriot population (23.1% and 9.2%, respectively) during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Solomou & Constantinidou, 2020).”
From Beyond the physical risk: Psychosocial impact and coping in healthcare professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic. (2025) · cites this paper as Solomou & Constantinidou, 2020
In the citing paper
“and data about the COVID-19 pandemic have echoed these findings.16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21”
From Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study (2021) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“Previous studies during the COVID-19 pandemic have already highlighted that women and younger adults had higher levels of anxiety and depression than men and older adults,4, 17, 18 but our data show that these groups have also had faster improvements in their symptoms.”
From Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study (2021) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“Similarly, there has been some indication that pre-existing psychiatric conditions are a risk factor for poorer mental health outcomes,22 which has also been echoed by data from the COVID-19 pandemic.16, 17”
From Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study (2021) · cites this paper as [17]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Solomou, I., & Constantinidou, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Cyprus (CY)
- Corresponding author
- Constantinidou, Fofi
- Venue
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2020-07-08
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 4924
- ISSN
- 1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7400373
- OpenAlex
- W3041468347
- Cited by
- 591
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 92 · 2022: 197 · 2021: 185 · 2020: 35
- FWCI
- 50.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of life, mental health, risk and protective factors, age and sex differences, financial concerns, unemployment, social distancing, personal hygiene, Cyprus
- MeSH terms
- Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Cyprus, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Patient Compliance, Pneumonia, Viral, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Prevalence, Universal Precautions, Coronavirus Infections, Young Adult, Pandemics
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