Examination of the psychosocial effects of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

INTRODUCTION: A pandemic can have multiple psychosocial effects. This web-based, cross-sectional study analyzed psychosocial effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Turkish society.
METHODS: The research data were collected electronically via an online questionnaire platform using a personal information form, a form that requested information about experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42). A total of 1420 individuals participated in the study. Descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, SD) were used to assess the data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare quantitative data between 2 groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparisons of >2 groups. Multiple comparison tests were performed to examine differences.
RESULTS: It was determined that 44.8% of the participants experienced mild depression, 36.1% had moderate anxiety, and 40.8% displayed moderate stress. Demographic characteristics of gender, age, marital status, educational and occupational status revealed differences in depression, anxiety, and stress values (p<0.05). Individual experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were also associated with differences in terms of depression, stress and anxiety (p<0.01).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had clear psychological, economic, social, and behavioral effects that may have a lasting impact on society.