A Psychometric Analysis of Somatic and Cognitive Factors of Anxiety in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic Based on State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Scale: An Observational Study

Background: The Pandemic of COVID-19 has put healthcare workers under significant psychological pressure. This aimed to analyze the cognitive and somatic components of anxiety among healthcare workers using the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Assessment Scale (STICSA) before and during the pandemic. In this observational study, 300 healthcare workers were analyzed using the STICSA questionnaire. Various demographic data like age, gender, marital status, educational background, sleep duration was collected. The somatic and cognitive dysfunction score were compared using an independent sample T-test between gender, duration of sleep, etc. Somatic and cognitive dysfunction severity was compared with demographic and pandemic-related parameters using the Chi square test. Result(s): Among 300 participants, the majority (83%, n=249) were below 29 years of age, 159(53%) were females. In respect to duration of sleep during the pandemic, the total score was 40.85 +/- 13.3 in participants sleeping less than 7 hours and 35.83 +/- 11.7 among participants sleeping more than7 hrs. This difference in total score and duration of sleep between the groups was statistically significant (P value 0.001). The mean total score of somatic and cognitive dysfunction before the pandemic was 34.88 +/- 11.527, and it was 38.03 +/- 12.655 during the pandemic. The difference in scores before the pandemic and during the pandemic was statistically significant (P value <0.001). Conclusion(s): This study gives enough evidence that anxiety levels have increased and duration of sleep has decreased among health care workers during this pandemic, with cognitive dysfunction being more profound than somatic dysfunction.. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

La actividad física como moderador en la ansiedad asociada al COVID-19 en estudiantes universitarios (Physical activity as a moderator in anxiety associated to COVID-19 in university students)

The COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on the mental health of the university population, so managing alternatives to adapt is essential. Objective. The purpose of the study was to analyze the moderating effect of physical activity (PA) on the anxiety levels generated by the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in university students. Method. A cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory study was carried out in university students (n = 922;36.66% men and 63.34% women;19.97 ± 2.92 years). An ad hoc questionnaire was applied to measure fear to COVID-19, as well as the CUXOS-D for anxiety levels and the IPAQ-s to assess PA. Descriptive, inferential and moderation analyzes were performed, in addition to the exploratory and confirmatory factorial for the CUXOS-D. Results. The influence of fear to COVID-19 on anxiety levels is observed, which is moderated by high PA levels (F [3,918] = 21.58;p <.001). Likewise, it is observed that women perceive greater anxiety and perform less PA than men. The factor analysis of the CUXOS-D was satisfactory. Conclusion. Physical activity can have positive effects that moderate the impact generated by COVID-19 over anxiety in the university community. Alternate : La pandemia por COVID-19 tuvo gran impacto sobre la salud mental de la población universitaria, por lo que gestionar alternativas para adaptarse resulta fundamental. Objetivo. El propósito del estudio fue analizar el efecto moderador de la actividad física (AF) sobre los niveles de ansiedad generados por las vivencias durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en estudiantes universitarios. Método. Se realizó un estudio transversal, correlacional-explicativo en estudiantes universitarios (n = 922;36.66% hombres y 63.34% mujeres;19.97 ±2.92 años). Se aplicó un cuestionario ad hoc para medir el miedo al COVID-19, así como el CUXOS-D para los niveles de ansiedad y el IPAQ-s para evaluar la AF. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, inferenciales y de moderación, además del factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio para el CUXOS-D. Resultados. Se observa la influencia del miedo al COVID-19 sobre los niveles de ansiedad cognitiva, la cual es moderada por los niveles de AF alta (F [3,918] = 21.58;p < .001). Asimismo, se observa que las mujeres perciben mayor ansiedad y realizan menor AF que los hombres. El análisis factorial del CUXOS-D fue satisfactorio. Conclusión. La AF puede tener efectos positivos que moderen el impacto generado por el COVID-19 sobre la ansiedad en la comunidad universitaria.Alternate :A pandemia do COVID-19 teve um grande impacto na saúde mental da população universitária, por isso é essencial gerir alternativas de adaptação. Meta. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o efeito moderador da atividade física (AF) nos níveis de ansiedade gerados por experiências durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em estudantes universitários. Método. Estudo transversal, correlacional-explicativo, realizado em universitários (n = 922;36,66% homens e 63,34% mulheres;19,97 ± 2,92 anos). Um questionário ad hoc foi aplicado para medir o medo do COVID-19, bem como o CUXOS-D para níveis de ansiedade e o IPAQ-s para avaliar a AF. Foram realizadas análises descritivas, inferenciais e de moderação, além do fatorial exploratório e confirmatório para o CUXOS-D. Resultados. Observa-se a influência do medo da COVID-19 nos níveis de ansiedade cognitiva, que é moderada por níveis de AF alta (F [3.918] = 21,58;p < 0,001). Da mesma forma, observa-se que as mulheres percebem maior ansiedade e realizam menos AF do que os homens. A análise fatorial do CUXOS-D foi satisfatória. Conclusão. A AF pode ter efeitos positivos que moderam o impacto gerado pela COVID-19 na ansiedade na comunidade universitária.

Physical activity as a moderator in anxiety associated to COVID-19 in university students

The COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on the mental health of the university population, so managing alternatives to adapt is essential. Objective.The purpose of the study was to analyze the moderating effect of physical activity (PA) on the anxiety levels generated by the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in university students. Method. A cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory study was carried out in university students (n = 922;36.66% men and 63.34% women;19.97±2.92 years).An ad hoc questionnaire was applied to measure fear to COVID-19, as well as the CUXOS-D for anxiety levels and the IPAQ-s to assess PA. Descriptive, inferential and moderation analyzes were performed, in addition to the exploratory and confirmatory factorial for the CUXOS-D. Results.The influence of fear to COVID-19 on cognitive anxiety levels is observed, which is moderated by high PA levels (F [3,918] = 21.58;p <.001). Likewise, it is observed that women perceive greater anxiety and perform less PA than men.The factorial analysis of the CUXOS-D was satisfactory. Conclusion. Physical activity can have positive effects that moderate the impact generated by COVID-19 over anxiety in the university community. © Federación Española de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educación Física (FEADEF)