Anxiety and intimate relationships in times of lockdown due to COVID-19.

Abstract

Objective: The virulence of COVID-19 has been particularly problematic in countries such as Spain. This led the government to decide that the population should be locked down at home to reduce the spread of the disease and avoid the collapse of the health system. Considering this, this study analyzed the changes in intimate relationships that occurred during lockdown in terms of dyadic adjustment, conflict, and quality of the relationship, as well as their relationship with anxiety symptoms. Method: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with adults (N = 342) aged 20-67 years who lived in Spain. Each participant completed self-report measures of anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state and trait subscales), dyadic adjustment (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), relationship conflict and quality, and sociodemographic variables. Results: The results showed significant levels of state anxiety, which was associated with poorer dyadic adjustment and a decrease in the perceived quality of relationships since the start of lockdown. Increased partner conflict seems to be an important predictor of dyadic adjustment and relationship quality during social isolation. Conclusions: This study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of the population, especially women. This finding is closely associated with difficulties with one's cohabiting partner (e.g., worse dyadic adjustment), but the most determining factor seems to be the previous state of the relationship. Clinical Impact StatementResearch on COVID-19 and mental health has focused on exploring the state of mental health of individuals at a given point in time, without a baseline of how they were before the pandemic. In this study, we assessed anxiety as a personality trait (trait anxiety), asking participants to base their responses on how they usually felt before the onset of the pandemic (i.e., baseline). A comparison between these results and the anxiety experienced in the first wave of the pandemic (state anxiety) confirmed an increase in anxiety-related symptoms in a significant number of participants, predicting worse dyadic adjustment and a deterioration in the quality of their relationships.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students in USA: Two years later

“…Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (the causative virus of coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19), first detected in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019, has been seen in many countries, threatens to be one of the most challenging tests faced by humanity in modern history ( Mahase, 2020 ; Pfefferbaum & North, 2020 ; Rodriguez-Dominguez et al, 2021 ; Wang, Horby, et al, 2020 ). So far, the COVID-19 has affected over 491 million reported cases (death rate, 1.28%), according to a recent report (April 4, 2022) from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University( Johns Hopkins University, 2022 ).…”

Emotional health assessment related to COVID‐19 in older people: A cross‐sectional study

“…From that day on, the Spanish population faced situations of confinement in their homes for months: curfews, suspension of non‐essential services, mobility limitations, and other measures intended to reduce contagion levels (Ministerio de la Presidencia, 2020 ). These measures were focused on limiting physical contact and social and family relationships, having a significant psychological impact on the population by affecting emotional well‐being and mental health, with an increase in negative emotions, such as anxiety or depression, and sensitivity to social risks, as well as a decrease in positive emotions and life satisfaction (Rodríguez‐Domínguez et al, 2021 ). All this has contributed to increasing concern regarding health and family and reducing it when it came to leisure and friends (Li et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Also, the studied population actively sought information about the coronavirus, expressed a high level of concern and knowledge, especially those with greater psychological distress, and the most frequent preventive behaviour was hand washing and respiratory hygiene. As predictors of these circumstances, these authors identified the degree of concern about COVID‐19, the number of hours spent consulting information about the disease, or the need for psychological support, among others (Rodríguez‐Domínguez et al, 2021 ).…”

“…As for situations of confinement, several studies suggest that it is related to negative effects on the mental health of the population, detecting an increase in the levels of anxiety and fear, especially in women (Rettie & Jo, 2021 ; Rodríguez‐Domínguez et al, 2021 ; Sánchez‐Teruel et al, 2021 ). To these effects, periods of enforced quarantine to contain the spread of the virus must be added (Ministerio de la Presidencia, 2020 ).…”

“…As predictors of these circumstances, these authors identified the degree of concern about COVID-19, the number of hours spent consulting information about the disease, or the need for psychological support, among others (Rodríguez-Domínguez et al, 2021).…”