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. 2020 Sep 11;22(9):e20955.
doi: 10.2196/20955.

Excessive Media Consumption About COVID-19 is Associated With Increased State Anxiety: Outcomes of a Large Online Survey in Russia

Nikita A Nekliudov #  1 , Oleg Blyuss #  1   2 , Ka Yan Cheung  3 , Loukia Petrou  3   4 , Jon Genuneit  5 , Nikita Sushentsev  6 , Anna Levadnaya  7 , Pasquale Comberiati  8 , John O Warner #  3 , Gareth Tudor-Williams #  9 , Martin Teufel #  10 , Matthew Greenhawt #  11 , Audrey DunnGalvin #  1   12 , Daniel Munblit #  1   9   13
Affiliations

Excessive Media Consumption About COVID-19 is Associated With Increased State Anxiety: Outcomes of a Large Online Survey in Russia

Nikita A Nekliudov et al. J Med Internet Res. .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially had a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of individuals and families. Anxiety levels and risk factors within particular populations are poorly described.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate confidence, understanding, trust, concerns, and levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population and assess risk factors for increased anxiety.

Methods: We launched a cross-sectional online survey of a large Russian population between April 6 and 15, 2020, using multiple social media platforms. A set of questions targeted confidence, understanding, trust, and concerns in respondents. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety. Multiple linear regressions were used to model predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety.

Results: The survey was completed by 23,756 out of 53,966 (44.0% response rate) unique visitors; of which, 21,364 were residing in 62 areas of Russia. State Anxiety Scale (S-Anxiety) scores were higher than Trait Anxiety Scale scores across all regions of Russia (median S-Anxiety score 52, IQR 44-60), exceeding published norms. Time spent following news on COVID-19 was strongly associated with an increased S-Anxiety adjusted for baseline anxiety level. One to two hours spent reading COVID-19 news was associated with a 5.46 (95% CI 5.03-5.90) point difference, 2-3 hours with a 7.06 (95% CI 6.37-7.74) point difference, and more than three hours with an 8.65 (95% CI 7.82-9.47) point difference, all compared to less than 30 minutes per day. Job loss during the pandemic was another important factor associated with higher S-Anxiety scores (3.95, 95% CI 3.31-4.58). Despite survey respondents reporting high confidence in information regarding COVID-19 as well as an understanding of health care guidance, they reported low overall trust in state and local authorities, and perception of country readiness.

Conclusions: Among Russian respondents from multiple social media platforms, there was evidence of higher levels of state anxiety associated with recent job loss and increased news consumption, as well as lower than expected trust in government agencies. These findings can help inform the development of key public health messages to help reduce anxiety and raise perceived trust in governmental response to this current national emergency. Using a similar methodology, comparative surveys are ongoing in other national populations.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; STAI; anxiety; media consumption; mental health; social media; state anxiety; survey; trait anxiety; trust; trust to government.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Density plot showing the difference between the state and trait anxiety based on the responses of all participants (N=21,364). STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Map of Russia showing the levels of respondents’ trait anxiety (T-Anxiety). Areas with data from less than 40 respondents are not shown on the map. T-Anxiety: Trait Anxiety Scale.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Map of Russia showing the levels of respondents’ state anxiety (S-Anxiety). Areas with data from less than 40 respondents are not shown on the map. S-Anxiety: State Anxiety Scale.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Respondents' answers to the questions addressing confidence, understanding, trust, and concerns. CC: The COVD-19 situation concerns me significantly; CE: I believe the crisis caused by COVID-19 will eventually resolve with little consequence for my country’s economy; CJ: I believe the crisis caused by COVID-19 will eventually resolve with little consequence for my job/business; CP: I think the country I am responding from is well prepared for COVID-19; EMLA: I think the measures taken by the local authorities in the city/town/village/etc against COVID-19 are excessive; EMSG: I think the measures taken by the country government against COVID-19 are excessive; GHA: I understand the guidance from health care authorities related to COVID-19; IC: I feel informed about COVID-19; IMPC: I feel informed about measures to prevent infection with COVID-19; LAM: I think that all possible local authority measures to fight COVID-19 are being taken in my city/town/village/etc; NIDL: The COVID-19 situation is negatively impacting my day-to-day life; Q: question; SGM: I think all possible government measures to fight COVID-19 are being taken in my country; TLA: I trust the local authorities in the city/town/village/etc I am responding from; TSG: I trust the government in the country I am responding from; WBI: I am worried about becoming infected with COVID-19 no matter how much I take care of myself.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Map of Russia showing the levels of respondents’ confidence in information and understanding. Areas with data from less than 40 respondents are not shown on the map. The combined median score on confidence in information and understanding was used (Question [Q]1. I feel informed about COVID-19; Q2. I feel informed about measures to prevent infection with COVID-19; Q3. I understand the guidance from health care authorities related to COVID-19). Respondents were provided with a 9-point Likert scale, where 1 is completely disagree and 9 is completely agree.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Map of Russia showing the levels of respondents’ trust to state and local authorities, and country readiness for the pandemic. Areas with data from less than 40 respondents are not shown on the map. The combined median score on trust to state and local authorities, and country readiness for the pandemic (Question [Q]4. I think the country I am responding from is well prepared for COVID-19; Q5. I think all possible government measures to fight COVID-19 are being taken in my country; Q6. I think that all possible local authority measures to fight COVID-19 are being taken in my city/town/village/etc; Q7. I trust the government in the country I am responding from; Q8. I trust the local authorities in the city/town/village/etc I am responding from). Respondents were provided with a 9-point Likert scale, where 1 is completely disagree and 9 is completely agree.
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