The Relationship of Individuals’ Depression and Anxiety Levels with Sociodemographic Characteristics and Worries and Attitudes Towards Outbreak During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress levels in individuals and sociodemographic characteristics and worries and attitudes towards the pandemic during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Participants were evaluated using a sociodemographic data form, the COVID-19 worry and attitude questionnaire, the depression anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), and the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R).

Results: A total of 633 respondents were included in the study. In total, 23.2% (n=122) of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe (IES-R >33). Moderate, severe, and very severe depression, anxiety, and stress levels were determined in 29.7% (n=188), 19% (n=122), and 13.4% (n=85) of respondents, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender, accompanying chronic disease, employment status, COVID-19 contact history, poor self-rated health status, and worries related to the pandemic were factors significantly associated with the DASS-21 and IES-R scores.

Conclusion: The mental health of individuals was negatively affected by worries about socioeconomic and pandemic-related uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social and health policies should be planned to reduce individual concerns during the pandemic.