The relationship between anxiety and perceived social support during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak

Objectives: The outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) quickly reached pandemic status. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of anxiety, the factors affecting anxiety, and the relationship between anxiety and perceived social support during the early period of the pandemic in Türkiye. Methods: A total of 405 females and 127 males (n=532) were enrolled in the study. The age range of the participants was 18-73 years, with a mean age of 30.95 years. A demographic information form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to collect data using an online format. Since the data did not show normal distribution, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Spearman correlation coefficient were utilized in the analysis. Results: The findings indicated that 77.8% of the individuals participating in the study had a mild level of anxiety, 10.3% demonstrated a moderate level of anxiety, and 11.8% displayed a severe level of anxiety. The female participants had a higher level of anxiety than the male respondents. The anxiety level of those who constantly followed the news about the virus and those who only partially implemented the precautions suggested by the experts was high. The length of time spent at home in self-isolation and changes to work conditions did not create a significant difference in the level of anxiety. A negative correlation was observed between anxiety and perceived social support from family and friends, however, support from another significant person, such as a fiancé, was not significant. Conclusion: The pandemic had a negative impact on mental health; however, social support played a protective role. Various examples from the literature are provided to provide relevant context.