The possible effects of social distancing measures: socioeconomic and psychological aspects

Abstract

The rapid advance of COVID-19 boosted the implementation of social distancing measures to control virus transmission rates. This being said, the objective of this study was to explore their impacts on mental and economic health conditions. Data were collected in 516 Brazilians, with a mean age of 37.5 years (SD = 14.08). To measure depressive symptoms, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression (CES-D) and for anxiety, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale were used. Regarding depression and anxiety, women had higher results (Δ = 4.465, SE = 1.43, p = 0.002). Young people had higher anxiety results (b = -0.09, p = 0.001). Finally, 53% of the interviewees indicated an average loss of R$1,049 (t(426) = 4.41, p < 0.001, d =  0.214). It is concluded that the new coronavirus pandemic and its implications impacted mental and economic health conditions.