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Anxiety and Depression during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Coping Strategies

Author

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  • Alessandro Miola

    (Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Casa di Cura Parco dei Tigli, 35037 Teolo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefano Caiolo

    (Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Psychiatry Section, Military Department of Forensic Medicine, 35137 Padua, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Giancarlo Pontoni

    (Psychiatry Section, Psychophysiological Selection Office, Italian Army National Recruitment and Selection Center, 06034 Foligno, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Erica Pozzan

    (Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy)

  • Chiara Moriglia

    (Psyops Development Center, 28th (APICE) Regiment “Pavia”, 61121 Pesaro, Italy)

  • Filippo Simionato

    (Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy)

  • Sergio Garofalo

    (Psychiatry Section, Military Department of Forensic Medicine, 35137 Padua, Italy)

  • Giulia Perini

    (Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Casa di Cura Parco dei Tigli, 35037 Teolo, Italy)

  • Fabio Sambataro

    (Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy
    Medicine Faculty, University of Padova, 35127 Padua, Italy)

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests increased anxious-depressive symptoms in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic, also in its second wave. High symptom variability across individuals suggests that risk and protective factors, including coping strategies, can play a mediating role. Methods: General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Brief-COPE questionnaires were administered to people attending a COVID-19 point-of-care. Univariate and multivariate methods were used to test the association of symptoms with risk and protective factors. Results: A total of 3509 participants (27.5% with moderate-severe anxiety; 12% with depressive symptoms) were recruited. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including age, sex, sleep, physical activity, psychiatric treatments, parenthood, employment, and religiosity were associated with affective symptoms. Avoidant (self-distraction, venting, behavioral disengagement) and approach (emotional support, self-blame but not positive reframing and acceptance) coping strategies predicted greater anxiety. Avoidant strategies, including venting, denial, behavioral disengagement, substance use, and self-blame, and the humor strategy were associated with more severe depressive symptoms, while the planning predicted the opposite. Conclusions: Coping strategies, in addition to socio-demographic and life-habit factors, could have contributed to modulating anxious and depressive symptoms during the second-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus advocating for interventions aimed at promoting positive coping strategies to reduce the psychosocial toll of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Miola & Stefano Caiolo & Giancarlo Pontoni & Erica Pozzan & Chiara Moriglia & Filippo Simionato & Sergio Garofalo & Giulia Perini & Fabio Sambataro, 2023. "Anxiety and Depression during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Coping Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2974-:d:1061706
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    References listed on IDEAS

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