Responding to Crisis: An Analysis of Psychological Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic through Web Survey

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pandemic-related anxiety, health, resilience, and psychological distress in 262 participants who were measured on COVID Anxiety Scale, Health Resilience Stress Questionnaire, and Kessler Psychological Distress through a web-based survey using Google Forms. Data collection was done from May 8th to May 12th, 2020, utilizing snowball sampling via social media platforms. Results revealed the participants were experiencing relatively low anxiety levels due to COVID-19, with only a minority indicating moderate to high anxiety. While most reported high resilience, a notable segment scored lower on health. Also, negative correlations emerged between resilience and COVID-19 anxiety, while positive correlations linked psychological distress to COVID-19 anxiety. Health displayed a significant positive correlation with resilience and an inversely significant correlation with psychological distress. Unexpectedly, no significant associations were found between psychological variables and COVID-19-related epidemiological variables, indicating multifaceted influences on psychological responses beyond immediate pandemic data. Additional scrutiny demonstrated no significant psychological variations between regions with differing pandemic intensities and living conditions. The findings underscore the intricate nature of psychological responses, shaped by individual and contextual factors.