Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries

Valentina N. Burkova; Marina L. Butovskaya; Ashley K. Randall; Julija N. Fedenok; Khodabakhsh Ahmadi; Ahmad M. Alghraibeh; Fathil Bakir Mutsher Allami; Fadime Suata Alpaslan; Mohammad Ahmad Abdelaziz Al-Zu’bi; Derya Fatma Biçer; Hakan Cetinkaya; Oana Alexandra David; Silvia Donato; Seda Dural; Paige Erickson; Alexey M. Ermakov; Berna Ertuğrul; Emmanuel Abiodun Fayankinnu; Maryanne L. Fisher; Lauren Hocker; Ivana Hromatko; Elena Kasparova; Alexander Kavina; Yahya M. Khatatbeh; Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree; Kai M. Kline; Fırat Koç; Vladimir Kolodkin; Melanie Maceacheron; Irma Rachmawati Maruf; Norbert Meskó; Ruzan Mkrtchyan; Poppy Setiawati Nurisnaeny; Oluyinka Ojedokun; Mohd S.B. Omar-Fauzee; Barış Özener; Edna Lúcia Tinoco Ponciano; Muhammad Rizwan; Agnieszka Sabiniewicz; Victoriya I. Spodina; Stanislava Stoyanova; Nachiketa Tripathi; Satwik Upadhyay; Carol Weisfeld; Mohd Faiz Mohd Yaakob; Mat Rahimi Yusof; Raushaniia I. Zinurova

doi:10.3390/su13074017

Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries

Valentina N. Burkova, Marina L. Butovskaya, Ashley K. Randall, Julija N. Fedenok, Khodabakhsh Ahmadi, Ahmad M. Alghraibeh, Fathil Bakir Mutsher Allami, Fadime Suata Alpaslan, Mohammad Ahmad Abdelaziz Al-Zu’bi, Derya Fatma Biçer, Hakan Cetinkaya, Oana Alexandra David, Silvia Donato, Seda Dural, Paige Erickson, Alexey M. Ermakov, Berna Ertuğrul, Emmanuel Abiodun Fayankinnu, Maryanne L. Fisher, Lauren HockerIvana Hromatko, Elena Kasparova, Alexander Kavina, Yahya M. Khatatbeh, Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree, Kai M. Kline, Fırat Koç, Vladimir Kolodkin, Melanie Maceacheron, Irma Rachmawati Maruf, Norbert Meskó, Ruzan Mkrtchyan, Poppy Setiawati Nurisnaeny, Oluyinka Ojedokun, Mohd S.B. Omar-Fauzee, Barış Özener, Edna Lúcia Tinoco Ponciano, Muhammad Rizwan, Agnieszka Sabiniewicz, Victoriya I. Spodina, Stanislava Stoyanova, Nachiketa Tripathi, Satwik Upadhyay, Carol Weisfeld, Mohd Faiz Mohd Yaakob, Mat Rahimi Yusof, Raushaniia I. Zinurova

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Abstract

Prior and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have resulted in substantial changes to everyday life. The pandemic and measures of its control affect mental health negatively. Self-reported data from 15,375 participants from 23 countries were collected from May to August 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two questionnaires measuring anxiety level were used in this study—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI). The associations between a set of social indicators on anxiety during COVID-19 (e.g., sex, age, country, live alone) were tested as well. Self-reported anxiety during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic varied across countries, with the maximum levels reported for Brazil, Canada, Italy, Iraq and the USA. Sex differences of anxiety levels during COVID-19 were also examined, and results showed women reported higher levels of anxiety compared to men. Overall, our results demonstrated that the self-reported symptoms of anxiety were higher compared to those reported in general before pandemic. We conclude that such cultural dimensions as individualism/collectivism, power distance and looseness/tightness may function as protective adaptive mechanisms against the development of anxiety disorders in a pandemic situation.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	4017
Journal	Sustainability (Switzerland)
Volume	13
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074017
State	Published - Apr 1 2021

Keywords

Anxiety
COVID-19 pandemic
Collectivism
Cross-cultural
Individualism
Looseness
Power distance
SARS-CoV-2 infection
Stress
Tightness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Science (miscellaneous)
Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
Geography, Planning and Development
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Hardware and Architecture
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Computer Networks and Communications
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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10.3390/su13074017

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Burkova, V. N., Butovskaya, M. L., Randall, A. K., Fedenok, J. N., Ahmadi, K., Alghraibeh, A. M., Allami, F. B. M., Alpaslan, F. S., Al-Zu’bi, M. A. A., Biçer, D. F., Cetinkaya, H., David, O. A., Donato, S., Dural, S., Erickson, P., Ermakov, A. M., Ertuğrul, B., Fayankinnu, E. A., Fisher, M. L., ... Zinurova, R. I. (2021). Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(7), Article 4017. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074017

Burkova, VN, Butovskaya, ML, Randall, AK, Fedenok, JN, Ahmadi, K, Alghraibeh, AM, Allami, FBM, Alpaslan, FS, Al-Zu’bi, MAA, Biçer, DF, Cetinkaya, H, David, OA, Donato, S, Dural, S, Erickson, P, Ermakov, AM, Ertuğrul, B, Fayankinnu, EA, Fisher, ML, Hocker, L, Hromatko, I, Kasparova, E, Kavina, A, Khatatbeh, YM, Khun-Inkeeree, H, Kline, KM, Koç, F, Kolodkin, V, Maceacheron, M, Maruf, IR, Meskó, N, Mkrtchyan, R, Nurisnaeny, PS, Ojedokun, O, Omar-Fauzee, MSB, Özener, B, Ponciano, ELT, Rizwan, M, Sabiniewicz, A, Spodina, VI, Stoyanova, S, Tripathi, N, Upadhyay, S, Weisfeld, C, Yaakob, MFM, Yusof, MR & Zinurova, RI 2021, 'Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries', Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 13, no. 7, 4017. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074017

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title = "Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries",

abstract = "Prior and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have resulted in substantial changes to everyday life. The pandemic and measures of its control affect mental health negatively. Self-reported data from 15,375 participants from 23 countries were collected from May to August 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two questionnaires measuring anxiety level were used in this study—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI). The associations between a set of social indicators on anxiety during COVID-19 (e.g., sex, age, country, live alone) were tested as well. Self-reported anxiety during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic varied across countries, with the maximum levels reported for Brazil, Canada, Italy, Iraq and the USA. Sex differences of anxiety levels during COVID-19 were also examined, and results showed women reported higher levels of anxiety compared to men. Overall, our results demonstrated that the self-reported symptoms of anxiety were higher compared to those reported in general before pandemic. We conclude that such cultural dimensions as individualism/collectivism, power distance and looseness/tightness may function as protective adaptive mechanisms against the development of anxiety disorders in a pandemic situation.",

keywords = "Anxiety, COVID-19 pandemic, Collectivism, Cross-cultural, Individualism, Looseness, Power distance, SARS-CoV-2 infection, Stress, Tightness",

author = "Burkova, {Valentina N.} and Butovskaya, {Marina L.} and Randall, {Ashley K.} and Fedenok, {Julija N.} and Khodabakhsh Ahmadi and Alghraibeh, {Ahmad M.} and Allami, {Fathil Bakir Mutsher} and Alpaslan, {Fadime Suata} and Al-Zu{\textquoteright}bi, {Mohammad Ahmad Abdelaziz} and Bi{\c c}er, {Derya Fatma} and Hakan Cetinkaya and David, {Oana Alexandra} and Silvia Donato and Seda Dural and Paige Erickson and Ermakov, {Alexey M.} and Berna Ertuğrul and Fayankinnu, {Emmanuel Abiodun} and Fisher, {Maryanne L.} and Lauren Hocker and Ivana Hromatko and Elena Kasparova and Alexander Kavina and Khatatbeh, {Yahya M.} and Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree and Kline, {Kai M.} and Fırat Ko{\c c} and Vladimir Kolodkin and Melanie Maceacheron and Maruf, {Irma Rachmawati} and Norbert Mesk{\'o} and Ruzan Mkrtchyan and Nurisnaeny, {Poppy Setiawati} and Oluyinka Ojedokun and Omar-Fauzee, {Mohd S.B.} and Barı{\c s} {\"O}zener and Ponciano, {Edna L{\'u}cia Tinoco} and Muhammad Rizwan and Agnieszka Sabiniewicz and Spodina, {Victoriya I.} and Stanislava Stoyanova and Nachiketa Tripathi and Satwik Upadhyay and Carol Weisfeld and Yaakob, {Mohd Faiz Mohd} and Yusof, {Mat Rahimi} and Zinurova, {Raushaniia I.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors.",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.3390/su13074017",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective

T2 - Data from 23 countries

AU - Burkova, Valentina N.

AU - Butovskaya, Marina L.

AU - Randall, Ashley K.

AU - Fedenok, Julija N.

AU - Ahmadi, Khodabakhsh

AU - Alghraibeh, Ahmad M.

AU - Allami, Fathil Bakir Mutsher

AU - Alpaslan, Fadime Suata

AU - Al-Zu’bi, Mohammad Ahmad Abdelaziz

AU - Biçer, Derya Fatma

AU - Cetinkaya, Hakan

AU - David, Oana Alexandra

AU - Donato, Silvia

AU - Dural, Seda

AU - Erickson, Paige

AU - Ermakov, Alexey M.

AU - Ertuğrul, Berna

AU - Fayankinnu, Emmanuel Abiodun

AU - Fisher, Maryanne L.

AU - Hocker, Lauren

AU - Hromatko, Ivana

AU - Kasparova, Elena

AU - Kavina, Alexander

AU - Khatatbeh, Yahya M.

AU - Khun-Inkeeree, Hareesol

AU - Kline, Kai M.

AU - Koç, Fırat

AU - Kolodkin, Vladimir

AU - Maceacheron, Melanie

AU - Maruf, Irma Rachmawati

AU - Meskó, Norbert

AU - Mkrtchyan, Ruzan

AU - Nurisnaeny, Poppy Setiawati

AU - Ojedokun, Oluyinka

AU - Omar-Fauzee, Mohd S.B.

AU - Özener, Barış

AU - Ponciano, Edna Lúcia Tinoco

AU - Rizwan, Muhammad

AU - Sabiniewicz, Agnieszka

AU - Spodina, Victoriya I.

AU - Stoyanova, Stanislava

AU - Tripathi, Nachiketa

AU - Upadhyay, Satwik

AU - Weisfeld, Carol

AU - Yaakob, Mohd Faiz Mohd

AU - Yusof, Mat Rahimi

AU - Zinurova, Raushaniia I.

PY - 2021/4/1

Y1 - 2021/4/1

N2 - Prior and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have resulted in substantial changes to everyday life. The pandemic and measures of its control affect mental health negatively. Self-reported data from 15,375 participants from 23 countries were collected from May to August 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two questionnaires measuring anxiety level were used in this study—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI). The associations between a set of social indicators on anxiety during COVID-19 (e.g., sex, age, country, live alone) were tested as well. Self-reported anxiety during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic varied across countries, with the maximum levels reported for Brazil, Canada, Italy, Iraq and the USA. Sex differences of anxiety levels during COVID-19 were also examined, and results showed women reported higher levels of anxiety compared to men. Overall, our results demonstrated that the self-reported symptoms of anxiety were higher compared to those reported in general before pandemic. We conclude that such cultural dimensions as individualism/collectivism, power distance and looseness/tightness may function as protective adaptive mechanisms against the development of anxiety disorders in a pandemic situation.

AB - Prior and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have resulted in substantial changes to everyday life. The pandemic and measures of its control affect mental health negatively. Self-reported data from 15,375 participants from 23 countries were collected from May to August 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two questionnaires measuring anxiety level were used in this study—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI). The associations between a set of social indicators on anxiety during COVID-19 (e.g., sex, age, country, live alone) were tested as well. Self-reported anxiety during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic varied across countries, with the maximum levels reported for Brazil, Canada, Italy, Iraq and the USA. Sex differences of anxiety levels during COVID-19 were also examined, and results showed women reported higher levels of anxiety compared to men. Overall, our results demonstrated that the self-reported symptoms of anxiety were higher compared to those reported in general before pandemic. We conclude that such cultural dimensions as individualism/collectivism, power distance and looseness/tightness may function as protective adaptive mechanisms against the development of anxiety disorders in a pandemic situation.

KW - Anxiety

KW - COVID-19 pandemic

KW - Collectivism

KW - Cross-cultural

KW - Individualism

KW - Looseness

KW - Power distance

KW - SARS-CoV-2 infection

KW - Stress

KW - Tightness

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JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)

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ER -

Predictors of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic from a global perspective: Data from 23 countries

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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