Abstract This study evaluated the relationship between meta-worries and anxiety and depressive symptoms at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. In March 2020, 2,042 individuals, aged 18-78 years were recruited. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Meta-Worry Questionnaire were administered online. Four logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of the independent variables on anxiety and/or depressive symptoms with explained variances between 28% and 39%. Being younger, not having a steady income, perceiving oneself as sick, and having a high meta-concern level increased the chances of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Finally, we hope to contribute to the screening of factors associated with mental disorders in Brazil at the beginning of the pandemic. metaworries meta worries COVID19 COVID 19 COVID-1 2020 2042 2 042 2,04 individuals 1878 18 78 18-7 recruited questionnaire 4item item 4 MetaWorry Meta Worry online andor or 28 39 39% younger income sick metaconcern concern Finally COVID1 1 COVID- 202 204 04 2,0 187 7 18- 3 20 0 2,

Resumo Esta pesquisa avaliou relações entre metapreocupações e sintomas ansiosos e/ou depressivos no início da pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil. Participaram 2042 indivíduos, entre 18 e 78 anos, na segunda quinzena de março de 2020. Um questionário sociodemográfico, o 4-item Patient Health Questionnnaire e o Meta-Worry Questionnnaire foram respondidos online. Quatro modelos de regressão logística foram utilizados para estimar o efeito das variáveis independentes nos sintomas ansiosos e/ou depressivos, com variâncias explicadas entre 28% e 39%. Ser mais jovem, não ter renda fixa, perceber-se doente e alto índice de metapreocupação aumentaram as chances de demonstrar sintomatologia ansiosa e/ou depressiva. Por fim, espera-se ter contribuído com o mapeamento de fatores associados à transtornos mentais no início da pandemia no Brasil. eou ou COVID19 COVID 19 COVID-1 Brasil 204 indivíduos 1 7 anos 2020 sociodemográfico 4item item 4 MetaWorry Meta Worry online 28 39 39% jovem fixa perceberse perceber se depressiva fim esperase espera COVID1 COVID- 20 202 2 3

Abstract Introduction Threats to mental health and psychological well-being have been considered among the most challenging dimensions to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective To track the occurrence of significant anxiety and depression symptoms and the level of worry among residents in Brazil in June 2020. Method The final sample totaled 4,805 participants from all Brazilian states. A sociodemographic and health questionnaire (with questions related to COVID-19), the translated versions of the Meta-Worry Questionnaire, and the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) were used. Inferential analyses were computed using the Multinomial Logistic Regression (backward stepwise) in which the PHQ-4 findings were stratified into four categories: no symptoms, only anxiety symptoms, only depression symptoms, and both symptoms. Results Research findings have shown that there are characteristics that predict greater exposure to significant symptoms of anxiety and depression (gender, age, and level of worry), with level of worry being the variable with the greatest impact on the model. Discussion and conclusion These data found during the COVID-19 pandemic intra-crisis period allow for early prediction of the negative outcomes associated with the pandemic, such as common mental disorders, and allocating interventions to help people to rationally deal with the stress related to this moment, regulating their emotions, and improving their overall mental health.

Resumen Introducción Las amenazas a la salud mental y el bienestar psicológico se han considerado entre las dimensiones más desafiantes de abordar en la pandemia de COVID-19. Objetivo Rastrear la ocurrencia de síntomas significativos de ansiedad y depresión y el nivel de preocupación entre los residentes en Brasil en junio de 2020. Método La muestra final totalizó 4,805 participantes de todos los estados brasileños. Se utilizó un cuestionario sociodemográfico y de salud (con preguntas relacionadas con el COVID-19), las versiones traducidas del Cuestionario Meta-Preocupación y el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente de 4 ítems (PHQ-4). Los análisis inferenciales se calcularon utilizando la regresión logística multinomial (backward stepwise) en la que los hallazgos de PHQ-4 se estratificaron en cuatro categorías: sin síntomas, solo síntomas de ansiedad, solo síntomas de depresión y ambos síntomas. Resultados Los hallazgos de la investigación han demostrado que existían características que predecían una mayor exposición a síntomas significativos de ansiedad y depresión (género, edad y nivel de preocupación), siendo el nivel de preocupación la variable de mayor impacto en el modelo. Discusión y conclusión Los datos finales permiten la predicción temprana de los resultados negativos asociados con la pandemia, como los trastornos mentales comunes, y la asignación de intervenciones para ayudar a las personas a enfrentar racionalmente el estrés relacionado con este momento mediante una regulación de sus emociones y un mejoramiento de su salud mental.