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State Anxiety in People Living with Disability and Visual Impairment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Nikki Heinze

    (BRAVO VICTOR, Research, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Claire L. Castle

    (BRAVO VICTOR, Research, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Syeda F. Hussain

    (BRAVO VICTOR, Research, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK)

  • Lauren R. Godier-McBard

    (Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UK)

  • Theofilos Kempapidis

    (BRAVO VICTOR, Research, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK)

  • Renata S. M. Gomes

    (BRAVO VICTOR, Research, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, 12–14 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HD, UK
    Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK)

Abstract

There has been growing recognition of the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions implemented to contain the virus on mental health. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the longitudinal impact on state anxiety in individuals with disabilities and a subsample of individuals with visual impairment (VI). Two surveys were conducted in April–May 2020 (T1) and March 2021 (T2) to explore state anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). Participants who consented to being re-contacted were invited to take part in T2. A total of 160 participants completed T1 and T2. There were no significant group differences in median anxiety at T1; however, at T2 anxiety was significantly higher in those with disabilities and there was a trend towards being higher in participants with VI compared to those with no disabilities. While not statistically significant within any of the three subgroups, state anxiety decreased slightly in those with no disabilities. The absence of a disability affecting mobility, experiencing loneliness, and poorer sleep quality predicted state anxiety at both timepoints. While anxiety appeared to decrease in individuals with no disabilities, it remained comparatively stable, and higher in those with disabilities. Loneliness and poor sleep may need to be addressed to alleviate feelings of anxiety.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikki Heinze & Claire L. Castle & Syeda F. Hussain & Lauren R. Godier-McBard & Theofilos Kempapidis & Renata S. M. Gomes, 2022. "State Anxiety in People Living with Disability and Visual Impairment during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:2:y:2022:i:2:p:17-246:d:797687
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Debanjan Banerjee & Mayank Rai, 2020. "Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(6), pages 525-527, September.
    2. Selçuk Özdin & Şükriye Bayrak Özdin, 2020. "Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 504-511, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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