Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and anxiety: A longitudinal study in 287 Brazilians

de Souza A.C.M.; Manoel A.Z.; Manoel P.Z.; Weiler R.A.; Yoshioka Kimura R.N.; Skare T.L.

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and anxiety: A longitudinal study in 287 Brazilians

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Artigo

Date

2021

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Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira

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1

Authors

de Souza A.C.M.
Manoel A.Z.
Manoel P.Z.
Weiler R.A.
Yoshioka Kimura R.N.
Skare T.L.

Abstract

© 2021 Associacao Medica Brasileira. All rights reserved.OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress in a sample of Brazilians and their relationship with sex, age, and work situation, and compare if these symptoms change with 8 weeks of quarantine. METHODS: Online survey to collect epidemiological data and apply the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Eight weeks later, the researchers requested the same requirements to complete the BAI and IES-R and compare the results. RESULTS: The sample of 287 answered the first and second questionnaires, being 72.8% women, with a median age of 22 years. In the first interview, the median BAI was 12 (7–19) and the median IES-R was 27.0 (15–40); in the second, the median BAI was 11 (6–22) and the IES-R was 30 (15–41) with p<00001 and 0.09, respectively. Anxiety levels were worse in females (p<0.0001 for both BAI and IES-R) and in those who worked/studied in the area of health (p=0.001 for BAI and 0.01 for IES-R). There was a negative correlation between age and anxiety (p<0.0001 for BAI and IES-R). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of anxiety that lowered after 8 weeks were found. Anxiety was worse in females, in younger people, and in those who worked/studied in the area of health.

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Adult , Anxiety , COVID-19 , Depression , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult