Survey of anxiety and depressive symptoms and analysis of their risks factors among individuals quarantined for COVID-19

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among individuals isolated during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and provide suggestions for psychological self-regulation and interventions for these individuals. Method Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale were used to survey 2 322 individuals who were isolated in quarantine facilities or in home quarantine for COVID-19 from January 31 to February 27, 2020. Results Of the 2 322 individuals surveyed, 344 (14.81%) were found to have depressive symptoms, 103 (4.44%) had anxiety symptoms, and 82 (3.53%) had both depressive and anxiety symptoms during quarantine. The scores for anxiety and depression of the quarantined individuals were significantly higher than the national norms of China (t=35.26, P < 0.01; t=43.25, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the anxiety symptoms of the quarantined individuals were closely associated with their education level (β=-2.84, P < 0.01), severity of insomnia (β=0.11, P < 0.01), perceived tension (β=0.20, P < 0.01) and depression (β=0.19, P < 0.01); the depressive symptoms were positively correlated with their perceived loss of control (β=0.18, P < 0.01) and anxiety (β=0.32, P < 0.01). Conclusion The levels of anxiety and depression among the quarantined individuals for COVID-19 are higher than the national norms. The main risk factors for anxiety symptoms include education level, severity of insomnia, perceived tension and depression, while perceived loss of control and anxiety are the major risk factors for the depressive symptoms in these individuals.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease 2019
• quarantined personnel
• anxiety
• depression