Coping strategies and risk factors for claustrophobia and anxiety in dental students during lockdown due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The increase in COVID-19 cases brought complex challenges to global health, with lockdown being a measure widely adopted around the world. This measure impacted students' routines, as it led to the migration of in-person classes to a virtual environment, potentially contributing to an increase in cases of anxiety and claustrophobia related to COVID-19. In order to assess the relationship between claustrophobia and anxiety during social isolation and remote learning, a study was conducted involving the anonymous opinions of 260 undergraduate dental students at the Christus University Center in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. A questionnaire divided into four sections containing information about age, gender, semester, shift, extracurricular activities prior to isolation, use of electronic devices, and the student's profile in a four-stage approach to select items was administered using Google® Forms. The data were analyzed with a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). As a result, we observed that anxiety levels were significantly lower compared to claustrophobia. There was an increase in anxiety in students over 20 years old, with incomes between three and four minimum wages, in internships. Virtual classes were directly associated with an increase in anxiety. The highest prevalence of claustrophobia was associated with female gender, family income between three and four minimum wages, and increased use of the internet and electronic devices. The study suggests a high prevalence and growth in anxiety and claustrophobia levels in dental students during lockdown as a response to COVID-19, demonstrating significant impacts on the mental health of students during the pandemic.