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

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) onanxiety 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 BriefSymptoms Inventory-18, the Fear of COVID-19, and the COVID-19 Negative Impact scales. Results: Anxiety symptomatology negatively associated with age and positively associ ated with coronavirus disease-aggravated replies, Fear of COVID-19, and Negative Impactof COVID-19. Hierarchical linear regression examination revealed that age, gender, andsexual orientation explained 8% of the variance of anxiety symptoms, and together withthe Fear and the Negative Impact of COVID-19, it explained 28% of the results. Conclusion: Perceived anxiety symptoms were higher than anticipated and aggravatedby the COVID-19 pandemic: female and bisexual participants showed higher levels ofanxiety symptomatology compared to male and straight, and gay or lesbian participants.