IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i7p4017-d530108.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Predictors of Anxiety in the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Global Perspective: Data from 23 Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina N. Burkova

    (Center of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
    International Center of Anthropology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia)

  • Marina L. Butovskaya

    (Center of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
    International Center of Anthropology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia)

  • Ashley K. Randall

    (Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Julija N. Fedenok

    (Center of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Human Ethology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Khodabakhsh Ahmadi

    (Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19395-5478, Iran)

  • Ahmad M. Alghraibeh

    (Department of Psychology, King Saud University, Riyadh 2458, Saudi Arabia)

  • Fathil Bakir Mutsher Allami

    (Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Misan, Amarah, Maysan 62001, Iraq)

  • Fadime Suata Alpaslan

    (Department of Anthropology, İstanbul University, İstanbul 34452, Turkey)

  • Mohammad Ahmad Abdelaziz Al-Zu’bi

    (Department of Early Childhood, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Zarqa University, Zarqa City 5468, Jordan)

  • Derya Fatma Biçer

    (Department of Business Administration, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas 58140, Turkey)

  • Hakan Cetinkaya

    (Department of Psychology, Ankara University, Ankara 06100, Turkey)

  • Oana Alexandra David

    (Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca 400015, Romania)

  • Silvia Donato

    (Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan 20123, Italy)

  • Seda Dural

    (Department of Psychology, Izmir University of Economics, İzmir 35330, Turkey)

  • Paige Erickson

    (Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI 48221-3038, USA)

  • Alexey M. Ermakov

    (Faculty of Bioengineering and Veterinary Medicine, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia)

  • Berna Ertuğrul

    (Department of Anthropology, İstanbul University, İstanbul 34452, Turkey)

  • Emmanuel Abiodun Fayankinnu

    (Department of Sociology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko 001, Nigeria)

  • Maryanne L. Fisher

    (Department of Psychology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada)

  • Lauren Hocker

    (Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Ivana Hromatko

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Elena Kasparova

    (Department of Pedagogy and Problems of Education Development, Belarusian State University, 220030 Minsk, Belarus)

  • Alexander Kavina

    (Department of History, St John’s University of Tanzania, Dodoma 47, Tanzania)

  • Yahya M. Khatatbeh

    (Department of Psychology, Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 5701, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree

    (School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Thasala District, Nakhon si Thammarat 80160, Thailand)

  • Kai M. Kline

    (Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Fırat Koç

    (Department of Anthropology, Hitit University, Çorum 19030, Turkey)

  • Vladimir Kolodkin

    (Faculty of Media Communications and Multimediatechnology, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia)

  • Melanie MacEacheron

    (School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Irma Rachmawati Maruf

    (Post Graduate Notary Law Program, Pasundan University, Bandung West Java 40113, Indonesia)

  • Norbert Meskó

    (Department for General and Evolutionary Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary)

  • Ruzan Mkrtchyan

    (Faculty of History, Department of Cultural Studies, Yerevan State University, 0025 Yerevan, Armenia)

  • Poppy Setiawati Nurisnaeny

    (State Intelligence College, Bogor 16001, Indonesia)

  • Oluyinka Ojedokun

    (Department of Pure & Applied Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko 01, Nigeria)

  • Damilola Adebayo

    (Department of Pure & Applied Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko 01, Nigeria)

  • Mohd S. B. Omar-Fauzee

    (School of Education, Universiti Utara Malaysia, UUM Sintok, Kedah 06010, Malaysia)

  • Barış Özener

    (Department of Anthropology, İstanbul University, İstanbul 34452, Turkey)

  • Edna Lúcia Tinoco Ponciano

    (Institute of Psychology and Center of Social Studies, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20943-000, Brazil
    Institute of Psychology and Center of Social Studies, University of Coimbra, 3004 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Muhammad Rizwan

    (Department of Psychology, University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22620, Pakistan)

  • Agnieszka Sabiniewicz

    (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic TU Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany)

  • Victoriya I. Spodina

    (Department of History and Ethnology, Ob-Ugric Institute of Applied Researches and Development, 628011 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia)

  • Stanislava Stoyanova

    (Department of Psychology, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria)

  • Nachiketa Tripathi

    (Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781 039, India)

  • Satwik Upadhyay

    (Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781 039, India)

  • Carol Weisfeld

    (Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI 48221-3038, USA)

  • Mohd Faiz Mohd Yaakob

    (School of Education and Modern Languages, University Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah 06010, Malaysia)

  • Mat Rahimi Yusof

    (School of Education and Modern Languages, University Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah 06010, Malaysia)

  • Raushaniia I. Zinurova

    (Institute of Innovation Management, Kazan National Research Technological University, 420015 Kazan, Russia)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 Ab, 2021. "Predictors of Anxiety in the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Global Perspective: Data from 23 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:4017-:d:530108
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/4017/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/4017/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Olga Semenova & Julia Apalkova & Marina Butovskaya, 2021. "Sex Differences in Spatial Activity and Anxiety Levels in the COVID-19 Pandemic from Evolutionary Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Fuller, Theodore D. & Edwards, John N. & Vorakitphokatorn, Sairudee & Sermsri, Santhat, 1996. "Chronic stress and psychological well-being: Evidence from Thailand on household crowding," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 265-280, January.
    3. Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe & Francisco Félix Caballero & Natalia Martín-María & María Cabello & José Luis Ayuso-Mateos & Marta Miret, 2018. "Association of loneliness with all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Paul T E Cusack, 2020. "Anxiety Disorders," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24255-24260, October.
    5. Patou Masika Musumari & Arunrat Tangmunkongvorakul & Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai & Teeranee Techasrivichien & S Pilar Suguimoto & Masako Ono-Kihara & Masahiro Kihara, 2018. "Grit is associated with lower level of depression and anxiety among university students in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Misato Uehara & Makoto Fujii & Kazuki Kobayashi, 2021. "A Model of Stress Change under the First COVID-19 Pandemic among the General Public in Japanese Major Cities and Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Arthur A. Stone & Joseph E. Schwartz & Joan E. Broderick & Angus Deaton, 2010. "A snapshot of the age distribution of psychological well-being in the United States," Working Papers 1230, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing..
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. SITI FAIRUS BINTI FUZI & Siti Ramizah Jama & Nordianah Jusoh & Siti Nursyahira Zainudin & Bushra Abdul Halim & Nurul Emyza Zahidi & Wan Hartini Wan Hassan, 2024. "Predictors of Severe Anxiety Among Bumiputera Students," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(1), pages 64-75.
    2. Marina L. Butovskaya & Valentina N. Burkova & Ashley K. Randall & Silvia Donato & Julija N. Fedenok & Lauren Hocker & Kai M. Kline & Khodabakhsh Ahmadi & Ahmad M. Alghraibeh & Fathil Bakir Mutsher All, 2021. "Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Role of Empathy during COVID-19’s First Wave," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-35, July.
    3. Tiberiu Constantin Ionescu & Bogdana Ioana Fetecau & Stefan Zaharia & Elma-Maria Mînecan & Catalina Tudose, 2023. "Sleepless Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Insomnia Symptoms among Professionally Active Romanians during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Angus Deaton & Arthur A. Stone, 2013. "Two Happiness Puzzles," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 591-597, May.
      • Arthur A. Stone & Angus Deaton, 2013. "Two happiness puzzles," Working Papers 2013-3, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing..
    2. De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel & Oswald, Andrew J., 2012. "Estimating the influence of life satisfaction and positive affect on later income using sibling fixed-effects," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51523, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Thi Truong An Hoang & Andreas Knabe, 2021. "Time Use, Unemployment, and Well-Being: An Empirical Analysis Using British Time-Use Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 2525-2548, August.
    4. Clémence Kieny & Gabriela Flores & Jürgen Maurer, 2021. "Assessing and decomposing gender differences in evaluative and emotional well-being among older adults in the developing world," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 189-221, March.
    5. Heather Lacey & Todd Kierstead & Diana Morey, 2012. "De-Biasing the Age-Happiness Bias: Memory Search and Cultural Expectations in Happiness Judgments Across the Lifespan," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 647-658, August.
    6. Andrew E. Clark, 2015. "SWB as a Measure of Individual Well-Being," Working Papers halshs-01134483, HAL.
    7. John F. Helliwell & Haifang Huang & Max B. Norton & Shun Wang, 2019. "Happiness at Different Ages: The Social Context Matters," Springer Books, in: Mariano Rojas (ed.), The Economics of Happiness, chapter 0, pages 455-481, Springer.
    8. Schwandt, Hannes, 2013. "Unmet Aspirations as an Explanation for the Age U-shape in Human Wellbeing," IZA Discussion Papers 7604, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Constanta Urzeala & Veronica Popescu & Daniel Courteix & Georgeta Mitrache & Mihaela Roco & Silvia Teodorescu, 2021. "Barriers and Facilitators for the Romanian Older Adults in Enjoying Physical Activity Health-Related Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-22, November.
    10. Neshat Yazdani & Karen L. Siedlecki, 2021. "Mediators of the Relationship Between Cognition and Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 3091-3109, October.
    11. David G. Blanchflower, 2020. "Is Happiness U-shaped Everywhere? Age and Subjective Well-being in 132 Countries," NBER Working Papers 26641, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. DECANCQ Koen & OLIVERA Javier & SCHOKKAERT Erik, 2018. "Program evaluation and ethnic differences: the Pension 65 program in Peru," LISER Working Paper Series 2018-21, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    13. Sugarmaa Myagmarjav & Denise Burnette & Frank Goeddeke Jr., 2019. "Comparison of the 18-item and 6-item Lubben Social Network Scales with community-dwelling older adults in Mongolia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, April.
    14. Héctor Badellino & María Emilia Gobbo & Eduardo Torres & María Emilia Aschieri, 2021. "Early indicators and risk factors associated with mental health problems during COVID-19 quarantine: Is there a relationship with the number of confirmed cases and deaths?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(5), pages 567-575, August.
    15. Epting, Shane, 2021. "Vulnerable groups, virtual cities, and social isolation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    16. Allyson S. Graf & Meagan A. Ramsey & Julie Hicks Patrick & Amy L. Gentzler, 2016. "Dark Storm Clouds and Rays of Sunshine: Profiles of Negative and Positive Rumination About Daily Hassles and Uplifts," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 2257-2276, December.
    17. Gianina Chirugu, 2022. "Analysis of the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on elderly people," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 28(1), pages 658-667, February.
    18. Barili, E. & Bertoli, P. & Grembi, V. & Rattini, V., 2021. "COVID Angels Fighting Daily Demons? Mental Health of Healthcare Workers and Religion," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 21/05, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    19. Mujcic, Redzo & Oswald, Andrew J., 2018. "Is envy harmful to a society's psychological health and wellbeing? A longitudinal study of 18,000 adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 103-111.
    20. Flores, Gabriela & Ingenhaag, Michael & Maurer, Jürgen, 2015. "An anatomy of old-age disability: Time use, affect and experienced utility," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 150-160.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:4017-:d:530108. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.