Measuring Anxiety Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Lens of Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on anxiety symptoms, examining differences of sexual orientation. Methods: A total of 1590 individuals participated, 63% (n = 1002) were females, 88% (n = 1399) self-identified as straight, and all replied to the anxiety subscale of the Brief Symptoms Inventory-18, the Fear of COVID-19, and the COVID-19 Negative Impact scales. Results: Anxiety symptomatology negatively associated with age and positively associated with coronavirus disease-aggravated replies, Fear of COVID-19, and Negative Impact of COVID-19. Hierarchical linear regression examination revealed that age, gender, and sexual orientation explained 8% of the variance of anxiety symptoms, and together with the Fear and the Negative Impact of COVID-19, it explained 28% of the results. Conclusion: Perceived anxiety symptoms were higher than anticipated and aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic: female and bisexual participants showed higher levels of anxiety symptomatology compared to male and straight, and gay or lesbian participants. © 2021 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. All rights reserved.