UK Job and Money Worries Causing Massive Anxiety Hike due to Coronavirus Lockdown

WORRIES in the UK over big issues like work and money are causing a massive hike in anxiety levels caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show how bad recent events have hit the population, with more than twice as many British people reporting a high level of anxiety after the lockdown compared with the end of 2019.

Unsurprisingly the OND data reflects widespread concerns about money, along with stress and loneliness.

Some 50 per cent of the UK population as ‘high’ in a survey conducted over the last 10 days of March.

That was up from 21 per cent at the end of 2019, the Office for National Statistics said.

“People’s most common concerns related to their well-being, their work, and their finances,” the ONS said.

The ONS said average anxiety levels on a 10-point scale peaked at 5.18 in the March 20-30 period, and early returns showed that the index level had dropped to 4.2 by April 9-20.

This was still much higher than the average of just below three in late 2019, though the ONS said the figures were not directly comparable due in part to a lack of seasonal adjustment for the 2020 figures.

A separate measure showed the proportion of people describing their satisfaction with life as ‘low’ stood at 21 per cent for March 23-30, up from 8 per cent in the final three months of 2019.

A lack of well-being – which the ONS said covered boredom, loneliness, anxiety and stress – represented the top worry, followed by concerns about work and household finances.

Interestingly enough, direct health problems came much lower down their list.