Table 5 Worry about COVID-19 by GAD-7 score ≥ 8 and reported Child SDQ score ≥ 5 (N = 1469)

I believe the public fear is justifiable

Strongly disagree/Disagree

85

5.8

31.8 (27)

29.08

< 0.001^*

29.7 (11)

0.89

0.640

Neutral

156

10.6

35.3 (55)

9.5(71)

Strongly agree /Agree

1228

83.6

52.9 (650)

29.2 (186)

I believe the public fear is dysfunctional

Strongly disagree/Disagree

759

51.7

51.5 (391)

10.86

0.004^*

28.5 (107)

0.357

0.836

Neutral

261

17.8

40.6 (106)

13.9(29)

Strongly agree/ Agree

448

30.6

52.3 (235)

30 (74)

I am worried about catching COVID-19

Not worried at all

138

9.5

21.7 (30)

176.98

< 0.001^*

6.6 (7)

55.25

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

801

55.2

40.6 (325)

10.3 (67)

Very/Extremely worried

511

35.2

72.6 (371)

26.3 (104)

I am worried about my parents catch COVID-19

Not worried at all

49

3.6

14.3 (7)

98.86

≤0.001^*

5.1 (2)

18.24

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

294

21.4

29.6 (87)

8.2(20)

Very/Extremely worried

1028

75.0

57.8(594)

18.4 (146)

I am worried my children catch COVID-19

Not worried at all

62

5.3

19.4 (12)

110.44

≤0.001^*

4 (2)

23.14

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

342

29.2

29.8(102)

10 (32)

Very/Extremely worried

766

65.5

60.2(461)

20.4 (141)

I am worried about what COVID-19 can do to me health wise

Not worried at all

121

8.4

17.4 (21)

178.81

≤0.001^*

3.1 (3)

44.22

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

667

46.4

38.4 (256)

10.5 (56)

Very/Extremely worried

647

45.1

68.8 (445)

23.1 (117)

I am worried about social isolation

Not worried at all

375

26.1

34.4(129)

81.71

≤0.001^*

9.2 (27)

58.29

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

608

42.3

48.2(293)

10.6 (52)

Very/Extremely worried

454

31.6

65.6(298)

27.7 (99)

I am worried about loss of income if infected with COVID-19

Not worried at all

265

18.8

32.1 (85)

73.63

≤0.001^*

7.9 (16)

22.91

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

441

32.9

44.4 (196)

12.1 (44)

Very/Extremely worried

633

47.3

61.6 (390)

20.7(107)

I am worried I transmit COVID-19 to others

Not worried at all

104

8.5

31.7 (33)

79.81

≤0.001^*

8.5 (8)

32.48

≤0.001^*

Little/Somewhat worried

328

27.0

34.5 (113)

7.4 (20)

Very/Extremely worried

785

64.5

60.5 (475)

21.6 (131)

Overall worry about COVID-19

Low levels of worry

394

26.8

27.4 (108)

148.7

≤0.001^*

6.4 (18)

44.9

≤0.001^*

High levels of worry

1075

73.2

58 (624)

18.2 (160)