Concerns and reactions to COVID-19 in the confined population according to age and sex (Preocupaciones y reacciones ante el COVID-19 en población confinada según edad y género)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Given the situation of lockdown implemented because of the COVID-19 virus, there is a need to study the sociodemographic variables and risk factors associated with psychological problems and greater difficulty with adapting to the situation, which could in turn help in the development of psychological treatment offered during and after isolation. The objective of this study is to analyse whether age and sex are related to the concerns and reactions experienced by the population. Fifteen days after the official lockdown order, we sent out an online survey comprising 23 questions. A sample of 1,711 was collected, which included participants’ sociodemographic data, previous personal traits, psychological reactions, health habits, concerns and health activities. The results of the analyses showed a statistically significant association between age and feeling overwhelmed or claustrophobic, tiredness, concern that a family member becomes infected with the disease, irritability, fear and sadness, and between sex and concern that a family member becomes infected with the disease, sadness and fear.