Last update:
19-Nov-2025

OBJECTIVE To explore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in the Greek population between the first and second waves.

METHOD A total of 1,464 individuals over 18 years of age, residing in Greece, participated in the study. Sampling was conducted using the snowball method, and data collection occurred between October 6 and 20, 2020. An electronic questionnaire was employed, which included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) along with a detailed survey covering demographic variables, socioeconomic conditions, health status, and questions regarding beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to COVID-19.

RESULTS Above normal levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were observed in 40.1%, 29.6%, and 32.2% of the population, respectively. Significant statistical correlations were identified between: (a) Depression and factors such as having children, self-rated health, the impact of the pandemic on daily life, and trust in the healthcare system; (b) anxiety and factors including gender, working in healthcare, quarantine restrictions, self-rated health, and the belief that daily life will change in the future due to the pandemic; and (c) stress and factors such as gender, working in healthcare, self-rated health, belief in the effectiveness of government pandemic management, belief that daily life will change in the future due to the pandemic, and concern over potential illness of relatives.

CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of the Greek population during its first wave, with certain population groups showing greater vulnerability. These findings can be leveraged for the targeted development of interventions aimed at preventing and addressing current and future health challenges.

Key words: Anxiety, COVID-19 pandemic, Depression, General population, Mental health.