Open AccessLoneliness, Depression, and Anxiety Experienced by the Israeli Population During the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-sectional Survey
Author(s) -
Jason Brafman,
Robert Lubin,
Revital NaorZiv,
Sarah Rosenberg,
Tzvi Dwolatzky
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
rambam maimonides medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.19
H-Index - 3
ISSN - 2076-9172
DOI - 10.5041/rmmj.10449
Subject(s) - loneliness , anxiety , panic , depression (economics) , feeling , cross sectional study , covid-19 , pandemic , psychiatry , medicine , population , social isolation , clinical psychology , psychology , environmental health , disease , social psychology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , macroeconomics , pathology
This research letter presents our study, which sought to evaluate the differences in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness between younger and older generations at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the younger generation is generally less accustomed to facing and dealing with adversity and illness, we hypothesized that adolescents and younger adults would have a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness as compared to the older generation. It must be emphasized that this survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 lockdown that occurred in Israel from mid-March 2020 to early May 2020. This was a time when businesses were closed, individuals and families were isolated at home with very limited social contact, and feelings of fear and panic were fueled by the electronic media.