Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Albanian authorities declared mandatory stay-at-home measures, closing businesses, schools, and public places. This study aims to investigate the impact of these immediate changes on the mental well-being of the population. Methodology: Respondents ( N = 1678) aged 18–60 years were selected through a convenient sampling method. A questionnaire was administered online for 26 days, where respondents reported the time spent daily in the COVID-19 topic and filled in their generalities, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Results: Findings suggest a significant negative correlation between age and anxiety scoring ( r (n = 1678) = −0.121, P ≤ 0.001) and between age and depression scoring ( r (n = 1678) = −0.232, P ≤ 0.001), shown also on the ANOVA test for age and anxiety ( F = 6.019, P ≤ 0.05), where younger populations had higher anxiety levels, as well as age and depression ( F = 20.326, P ≤ 0.05), where older populations had higher levels of depression. Differences on the level of education resulted in a lower score of anxiety and depression ( F = 3.524, P ≤ 0.05; F = 7.739, P ≤ 0.05, respectively) on respondents with higher education. Those who found themselves jobless from the pandemic scored higher on anxiety and depression ( F = 9.760, P ≤ 0.05; M = 6.21, ds = 4.686 and F = 16.051, P ≤ 0.05; M = 8.18, ds = 5.791, respectively) compared with those who are still working. Significant differences were found on the ANOVA test related to different amounts of time spent daily on the COVID-19 topic for anxiety and depression ( F = 25.736, P ≤ 0.001; F = 5.936, P ≤ 0.003, respectively), with people who spend <1 h scoring higher on depression (M = 7.57, ds = 5.849) and those who spent >3 h scoring higher on anxiety (M = 6.76, ds = 5.60). On the t -test, people on a romantic relationship scored lower levels of depression (t = −4.053, P ≤ 0.0001) compared to single individuals, and females scored higher levels of anxiety ( t = 12.344, P ≤ 0.001) compared to males. Conclusions: Younger participants score higher levels of anxiety and depression. Higher education individuals show lower levels of anx...

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the Albanian authorities declared mandatory stay-at-home measures, closing businesses, schools and public places.ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of these immediate changes on the mental wellbeing of the population.MethodsRespondents (N=1678) from 18 to 60 years old were selected through a convenient sampling method. Questionnaires were administered online reporting time spent daily in the COVID-19 topic and genealities; the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.ResultsFindings suggest a significant negative correlation between age and anxiety scoring (r(n=1678)=-.121, p≤.001) and age and depression scoring (r(n=1678)=-.232, p≤.001), shown also on the ANOVA test for age and anxiety (F=6.019, p≤.05) and age and depression (F=20.326, p≤.05). Differences on the level of education resulted in a lower score of anxiety and depression respectively (F=3.524, p≤.05), (F=7.739, p≤.05) on respondents with higher education. Those who were jobless from the pandemic scored higher on anxiety and depression respectively (F=9.760, p≤.05) (M=6.21, ds=4.686) and (F=16.051, p≤.05) (M=8.18, ds=5.791). Significant differences were found related to different amounts of time spent on the COVID-19 topic, respectively for anxiety and depression (F=25.736, p≤.001), (F=5.936, p≤.003), with people who spend less than 1 hour scoring higher on depression (M=7.57, ds= 5.849) and those who spend more than 3 hours scoring higher on anxiety (M=6.76, ds=5.60).ConclusionsHigher education individuals, having a job and being in a romantic relationship relate to lower levels of depression during Covid-19 quarantine in Albania. Spending more time on the COVID-19 topic daily and being a female relate to higher level of anxiety.DisclosureNo significant relationships.