Levels of anxiety and worry are rising and falling as rates of COVID-19 rise and fall. Nearly 67 per cent of Australians reported feeling anxiety and worry in April 2020. This fell to 57 per cent in May but rose again to 63 per cent in August 2020 as Victoria dealt with a new wave of cases.
A majority of those surveyed in the ANU Poll reported they were anxious and worried in August 2020.
The biggest increase was in worry and anxiety for females with rates rising from 61% in May to 68% in August.
The biggest increase for age groups was for those aged between 65-74 which rose from 47% to 57%
Young Australians aged between 25-34 continued to have the highest rates of anxiety and worry.