Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on people’s psychological functioning, altering emotional lives by increasing anxiety and lowering mood. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 infection on anxiety and mood, and to examine the role of gender and the significance of the number of infections. The study was based on a questionnaire and involved 210 participants (n = 101 who contracted COVID-19 and n = 109 who never experienced the disease). The Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a tool with good psychometric properties, was used for assessment.
Gender differences were observed in levels of anxiety and depression. Men reported higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to women. Interestingly, those who had not experienced COVID-19 reported higher levels of depression. The study indicated a moderating role of gender in the relationship between anxiety, depression, and the number of infections. Experiencing an infection may reduce tension and possibly increase feelings of better coping and greater self-confidence, which is particularly significant for men, given the persistence of stereotypical attitudes towards male and female roles in society.
The individual experience of COVID-19 infection, coupled with the unpredictability of the body’s response, may foster a sense of uncertainty, exacerbating negative emotions. However, participants who had contracted the disease learned to cope with it and developed some immunity, which might explain the observed differences. This conclusion is important in the context of potential subsequent waves of the epidemic.