Anxiety levels at highest since first lockdown, figures show
Anxiety levels are now at their highest since the peak of the first lockdown, figures have shown.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed that happiness and life satisfaction fell as Britain entered its third national lockdown in January.
Some 42 per cent of adults reported high levels of anxiety, the highest proportion since April 3 to 13, when 46 per cent reported this.
People surveyed between January 7 and 10 also said they were less happy, less satisfied with their lives overall and were less likely to feel things they are doing are worthwhile.
The fall in wellbeing coincides with the start of England's third national lockdown, announced on January 4, when people were told to stay at home.
This was also announced for Scotland on January 4 while Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford extended restrictions to the whole nation earlier on December 19.
The ONS analysed responses from 3,833 people as part of its Opinions and Lifestyle Survey to understand the impact of Covid-19 on society.
It found that 56 per cent said their wellbeing is affected by the pandemic, up from 53 per cent the previous week, and 27 per cent said they feel lonely often, always or some of the time, up slightly from the previous week.
More than three quarters (78 per cent) said they felt very or somewhat worried about the effect of coronavirus on their lives.
It also compared adults' behaviour now to that over Christmas and its run-up.
The figures show 62 per cent of respondents stayed at home or only left home for a limited set of reasons in the previous seven days, up from 41 per cent over Christmas and 32 per cent in the run-up to Christmas.
Fewer people said they had left home to meet up with others in a public space (6 per cent) or personal space (4 per cent).
The ONS said some of this activity may have taken place before the new lockdown was introduced.
But compared to the first lockdown around 20 per cent fewer people stayed at home or only went out for essential reasons in the last week. Between May 4 and 17, 81 per cent of respondents did not leave home.
Tim Vizard, principal research officer at the ONS, said: "This week, more people are telling us that they are staying at home compared with previous weeks, and fewer of us are meeting up with family and friends outside home.
"We are still seeing a high level of compliance with measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing.
"However, we are also seeing a rise in those saying they are experiencing anxiety, which is back at levels last seen in April 2020."
The data also showed almost nine in 10 said they supported the current lockdown measures where they lived, up from 75 per cent in the run up to Christmas.
But despite support for the measures, aimed at bringing the pandemic under control, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) felt it will take more than a year for life to return to normal, up from 20 per cent over the festive period.
