Determinants of Stress Levels and Behavioral Reactions in Individuals With Affective or Anxiety Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Russia

Mikhail Yu Sorokin; Evgeny D Kasyanov; Grigory V Rukavishnikov; Maria A Khobeysh; Olga V Makarevich; Nikolay G Neznanov; Tatyana G Maximova; Dmitry N Verzilin; Natalia B Lutova; Galina E Mazo

doi:10.3389/fsoc.2022.870421

Determinants of Stress Levels and Behavioral Reactions in Individuals With Affective or Anxiety Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Russia

Front Sociol. 2022 Jul 5:7:870421. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.870421. eCollection 2022.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrative Pharmaco-Psychotherapy of Patients With Mental Disorders, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
² Department of Translational Psychiatry, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
³ Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Addictions, I.P. Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
⁵ Faculty of Infocommunication Technologies, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
⁶ St. Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
⁷ Department of Management and Economy of Sports, Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with affective and anxiety disorders are among those most vulnerable to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: This study aims to analyze the determinants of stress levels and protective behavioral strategies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Russian-speaking people with affective or anxiety disorders (AADs).

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional online survey, the psychological distress and behavioral patterns of respondents with self-reported AAD (n = 1,375) and without disorders (n = 4,278) were evaluated during three periods of restrictive measures in Russia (March-May 2020). Distress levels were verified using the Psychological Stress Measure (PSM-25).

Results: Stress levels among respondents with AAD were higher at all study periods than for those with no mental disorder (Cohen's d 0.8-1.6). The stress level increased (Cohen's d = 0.4) in adolescents (16-18 years) with AAD and remained the same in those without disorders; in youths (19-24 years) with and without disorders, an increase (Cohen's d = 0.3) and a decrease (Cohen's d = 0.3) in the stress were observed, correspondingly; the stress in adults (25-44 years) with disorders did not change and decreased in those without disorders (Cohen's d = 0.4). Individuals with bipolar disorders demonstrated lower stress than individuals with depressive (Cohen's d = 0.15) and anxiety disorders (Cohen's d = 0.27). Respondents with depressive and bipolar disorders employed fewer protective measures simultaneously and were less likely to search for information about COVID-19.

Conclusion: The presence of affective or anxiety disorders is associated with a more acute response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently, the type of mental disorder influenced stress levels and protective behavior patterns.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; anxiety disorders; bipolar disorder; depressive disorder; health risk behavior; psychological distress.