Anxiety in Older Adolescents at the Time of COVID-19

Abstract

Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is a catastrophic health risk, with psychological, emotional, social, and relational implications. From the early stages of the virus spread, the elderly population was identified as the most vulnerable, and health authorities have rightly focused on this frailer population. Conversely, less attention was given to the emotional and psychological dimensions of children and adolescents. Moreover, even though they were the subjects whose lives and health were at low risk, they, nevertheless, had to face a reality full of anxiety, fears, and uncertainties. The current study investigated the state of anxiety and emotional awareness in a sample of healthy older adolescents, 84 females and 64 males, aged 17 to 19, during the pandemic lockdown, using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Italian Emotion Awareness Questionnaire. An unexpected anxious phenomenology was found, affecting anxiety and the ideo-affective domain, while somatic symptomatology appeared to be less severe. The highest anxiety symptoms were breathing difficulties. These findings supported the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic may be a risk condition for an increased state of anxiety in older adolescents and suggested the need to provide (1) an effective, empathic communication system with direct participation of older adolescents, (2) a psychological counseling service for the stress management of adolescents.

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Associations with Travel, Tourism and Hospitality

“…All questions concerning travel, tourism and hospitality correlated positively with the CAS and FCV-19S and their dimensions, confirming the second hypothesis, H2 , and corroborating previous studies [ 15 , 40 , 41 ]. Participants reported that the items most impacted by COVID-19 were vacations and leisure time, and the item lesser impacted was traveling by car, corroborating these results in the literature concerning leisure [ 42 ] and traveling by car [ 43 ]. In fact, leisure activities and holidays have undergone profound changes.…”

COVID-19 Anxiety—A Longitudinal Survey Study of Psychological and Situational Risks among Finnish Workers

“…As the current coronavirus pandemic continues, attention should be paid to the potential situational and psychological factors explaining COVID-19 anxiety. Emerging research has identified several factors influencing levels of psychological distress, fear, and COVID-19-related anxiety among members of the general public and older adults [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], but fewer studies have been conducted so far on COVID-19 anxiety and the related risk factors among working populations. This longitudinal research aims to fill this gap by investigating COVID-19 anxiety among Finnish workers.…”

“…This can have an impact on general theories of wellbeing at work. Research has thus far identified psychological factors such as fear and trait anxiety, as well as situational factors, such as living alone and having a pre-existing chronic illness, to predict COVID-19 anxiety among older adults, medical workers, and the general public [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. In addition, women and younger individuals have been found more likely to experience COVID-19-related stress [ 13 , 14 ].…”

COVID-19 Anxiety – A Longitudinal Survey Study of Psychological and Situational Risks among Finnish Workers

“…As the current coronavirus pandemic continues, attention should be paid to the risk factors of COVID-19 anxiety. Emerging research has identified several factors influencing levels of COVID-19 related anxiety among members of the general public and older adults [7][8][9][10][11], but little research has been done so far on COVID-19 anxiety and the related risk factors among working populations. This longitudinal research aims to fill this gap by investigating COVID-19 anxiety among Finnish workers.…”

“…This can have an impact on general theories of wellbeing at work. Research has thus far identified psychological factors such as fear and trait anxiety, as well as situational factors such as living alone and having a pre-existing chronic illness to predict COVID-19 anxiety among older adults, medical workers, and the general public[7][8][9][10][11]. In addition, women and younger individuals have been found to experience COVID-19 related stress more likely[12,13].…”