Comparison of Anxiety, Stress, and Depression in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Before and after the Covid-19 Pandemic Considering Perceived Social Support: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

The Covid-19 and the imposed restrictions, along with difficulty in accessing medical services, can affect the level of anxiety, stress, and depression of patients with diabetes. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the emotional status of these patients. A total of 318 individuals with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study between 2018 and 2020 were included in the current study. The data on perceived social support (PSS) and emotional state (ES) were collected before and after the Covid-19 outbreak using the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaires, respectively. Data were analyzed using paired T-tests and repeated measures tests. Mean total scores of PSS did not have significant differences before and after the outbreak of Covid-19. Comparison of the subscale scores indicates a significant increase in PSS from family (p=0.013) and a significant decrease in PSS from friends (p=0.039) in women, and an increase in PSS from significant others in both groups of women (p=0.019) and men (p=0.045). Comparing the ES scores before and after the outbreak of Covid-19 indicated that the adjusted model, anxiety, and stress scores decreased significantly after the Covid-19 outbreak in females. There was no significant difference in anxiety and stress scores in males and depression scores in both sexes. After the outbreak of Covid-19, levels of anxiety and stress in women have decreased, which can be due to the improvement of PSS from the family and, consequently, the reduction of diabetes-related concerns.