Coronavirus: Anxiety more than doubled for married people during UK lockdown

Nearly four in 10 married Britons reported high levels of anxiety as home schooling piled pressure on work-life balance

It has also been estimated that 19 million adults in the UK were suffering high levels of anxiety amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study by the Office for National Statistics. Getty ImagesShow less

Married people have suffered the most stress during lockdown with anxiety levels rising more than twice as high as last year, a report has found.

It has also been estimated that 19 million adults in the UK were suffering high levels of anxiety, according to a study by the Office for National Statistics.

The percentage of married people who reported high anxiety increased from 19 per cent last year to 39 per cent. By comparison, single people went from 23 per cent to 36 per cent.

One quarter of married people surveyed found that having to balance home schooling of children alongside working from home and other commitments highly stressful. By comparison only one in 10 people who were single, separated or divorced were home schooling children, the ONS report on anxiety and coronavirus stated.

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“The effect seen on average anxiety ratings throughout the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic shows a similar pattern to the theory of ‘hedonic adaptation’.

“When a shock event occurs, such as the impact of the coronavirus, well-being is temporarily impacted but people then quickly adapt so that well-being partially bounces back, though not necessarily to the same level as it was before the shock.”

The report indicated that certain groups appear to be more vulnerable to anxiety during lockdown. It found that people who “often or always” felt lonely were almost five times more likely to report higher levels of anxiety than those who said they “never” felt lonely.

Those aged over 75 were twice as likely as those aged 16 to 24 to report high levels of anxiety during the virus restrictions.

A fifth of people found working from home the most difficult.

“One particularly striking finding is that 39 per cent of people who are married or in a civil partnership reported high levels of anxiety,” said Dawn Snape, assistant director of national well-being at the ONS. “It may in part be because of the challenges of home schooling alongside work and other responsibilities.”

“Another marked change is in those aged 65 years or older. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic we consistently saw lower anxiety ratings in those aged 65 years and older, but now we are seeing the highest levels of anxiety among this group in lockdown.”

With lockdown measures gradually easing, levels of anxiety among Britons are reducing compared with the start of the restriction in late March.

At the beginning of lockdown, there was a “marked” increase of anxiety with almost half of people reporting high anxiety. This lowered to 37 per cent between April 30 and May 10, but anxiety still remains markedly higher in the UK compared with last year.