Highlights Intolerance to uncertainty explained anxiety and depression related to COVID-19 lockdown in the whole population. Young people are more sensitive to lockdown conditions and psychological distress. During confinement, young people have drunk alcohol less often and in smaller quantities. Deconfinement strategies must be accompanied by preventive recommendations.

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Background: This study took place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present research assesses the association between lockdown conditions (such as time spent at home, living environment, proximity to contamination and social contacts), mental health (including intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety and depression) and intimate partner violence within the community. This study evaluates the indirect effect of anxiety and depression on the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and intimate partner violence (physical assault and psychological aggression). Methods: 1532 adults (80.8% of women, Mage = 35.34) were recruited from the Belgian general population through an online self-report questionnaire completed during the lockdown (from April 17 to 1 May 2020). Results: The results demonstrate that the prevalence of physical assault (including both perpetration and victimization) was significantly higher in men, whereas the prevalence of psychological aggression was significantly higher in women. Men reported significantly more violence during lockdown. Women, on the other hand, were more anxious and more intolerant of uncertainty. No difference between men and women was found for depression. Anxiety and depression significantly mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and physical assault and psychological aggression. Sex did not moderate the mediation. Conclusion: Clinical implications for public health policy are highlighted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychological well-being of students. Several stressors (such as socioeconomic and education-related contexts) could influence mental health, as well as individual and relational dimensions. This study proposes to evaluate the predictive effect of these factors on anxiety and depressive symptoms among students in higher education one year after the beginning of the pandemic. A sample of 23,307 students (Mage = 20.89; SD = 1.96; 69.08% of women) was assessed through an online self-report questionnaire including adapted and validated measures. The main rates were as follows: 50.6% of students presented anxiety symptoms; 55.1% reported depressive symptoms; 20.8% manifested suicidal ideations; 42.4% saw their financial situation deteriorate; 39.1% felt they were dropping out of school. One year after the beginning of the pandemic, students in higher education are anxious and depressed, especially those who identify as women (for both anxiety and depression) and as a non-binary gender (only for anxiety), experience a deterioration in their financial situation, are dropping out of school, or manifest hostility (for both anxiety and depression). The degree of study affects the symptoms’ severity (Bachelor 2 and 3 for anxiety and Master for depression). Contact with family and friends (for both anxiety and depression) as well as regular physical activity (only for depression) should provide some protection against psychological distress. Policy-makers must make a long-term investment in the well-being and positive mental health of the student community.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by anxiety and avoidance behaviours in situations of social interaction or performance in which a person must face unfamiliar people or possible scrutiny (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). It is one of the most common anxiety disorders among children and adolescents, with a mean age of onset of 15.5 years (Faravelli et al., 2000). The lifetime prevalence rate of SAD in adolescents ranges from 1.6% (Essau, Conradt, & Petermann, 1999) to 4.9% for males and 9.5% for females (Wittchen, Stein, & Kessler, 1999). A recent study based on a self-report scale of social anxiety determined the prevalence rate of SAD to be 10.6% in young people (Gren-Landell, Aho, Andersson, & Svedin, 2011). Adolescence is a particular developmental period, distinct from childhood and adulthood. Indeed, this period is characterized by a stressful shift, including behavioral and cognitive changes. Teenagers could have difficulties to cope with these transitions, especially environmental and social challenges (Collins, 2001; Jessor, 1993). Compared to other periods of life, they experiment more stressors and negative life events (