Study on regular habits during confinement periods and their influence on anxiety (Estudio sobre los hábitos regulares en periodos de confinamiento y su influencia en la ansiedad)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has forced governments to implement restrictions on mobility and social interaction and, in some cases, even confine populations to their homes, affecting their daily habits. The sample of the present study comprised 3,500 female and 1,186 male participants, whose average age was 37.9 (M = 37.90, SD = 12.46 years). A State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire and questions specifically designed for this study were applied in order to assess participants’ daily habits regarding exercise during the lockdown periods. This was an ex-post facto, cross-sectional and descriptive study. Although the results showed no evidence of the severity of the anxiety symptoms, they did indicate that anxiety was present. Confinement was seen to be a significant factor in anxiety levels, and it was seen that females were more vulnerable than males. It also became apparent that exercise and cultural activities reduce anxiety.