The Role of Personality Traits and Lifestyle in Predicting Anxiety and Depression During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Social gathering restrictions and quarantine for reducing the spread of coronavirus can reduce social interactions and cause mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Objective This study aims to investigate the role of personality traits and health-promoting lifestyles in predicting anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Najafabad, Iran Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in April 2021 during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. The study population consisted of people aged >18 years old living in Najafabad. Using a convenience sampling method, 225 people were selected and completed questionaries online. Of these, the data of 217 questionnaires were analyzed. Beck Depression Inventory, Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, short form of Big-Five-Factor Inventory, and Walker’s Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using Multiple Linear Regression and SPSS v. 24 statistical software. Results: The personality traits of neuroticism (r=0.343, r=0.176) and extraversion (r=-0.503, r=-0.375) were positively and negatively correlated with depression and anxiety, respectively, and were the predictive of depression and anxiety (P<0.05). The agreeableness trait (r=0.233) was also negatively correlated with anxiety, and was its significant predictor (P<0.05). Among the health-promoting lifestyle domains, self-fulfillment (r=-0.489) and physical activity (r=-0.348) had a negative correlation with depression, while health responsibility (r=-0.285) had a negative correlation with anxiety; they were the significant predictors of depression and anxiety (P<0.05) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Given the effect of personality traits and health-promoting lifestyles on depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak, the interventions focused on these components can be effective in improving the mental health of people.