Assessment of Anxiety and Associated Risk Factors among General Public During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Community Based Study

Abstract

Background: Lockdown represents a remarkably effective strategy of social distancing to break the chain of
transmission of COVID-19. This state of lockdown led to a significant influence on physical and mental wellbeing
of people. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety level of
general public and find out the associated factors.
Methods: The present web based cross-sectional study was carried out among 450 participants in India in the
month of May 2020. Data collection was done using online Google form. A semi-structured questionnaire was
used. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) Scale was used to assess anxiety symptoms among the
participants. Descriptive Statistics and Chi-square test were done using SPSS version 21.
Results: Age of the participants ranged between 18 to 71 years. Nearly one-third of the participants were health care
professionals. Symptoms of mild anxiety was reported by 17.1% of participants, while 20.2% reported moderate
anxiety. Anxiety was found to be significantly more among female gender, health care professional and among the
study participants who were going to work daily.
Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic has increased the anxiety level among general public.