Gallup's latest Negative Experience Index, which annually tracks these experiences worldwide in more than 100 countries and areas, shows that the year 2020 officially became the most stressful year in recent history. That's not to say things can't or won't improve in the future. In the U.S. in 2021, people's ratings of their lives rebounded -- hitting new all-time highs -- and their emotions returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Defining Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry.
Scale: Generalised Anxiety Disorder -7
Source: Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092. PMID: 16717171.
Defining Depression
Depression is a common mental disorder affecting more than 264 million people worldwide. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite; tiredness and poor concentration are common. Depression is a leading cause of disability around the world and contributes greatly to the global burden of disease.
Scale 1. Depression Self-rating Scale for Children
The Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children was developed in 1978 as part of a Masters of Philosophy Thesis at the University of Edinburgh.
Source: Birleson P. (1981) The Validity of Depressive Disorder in Childhood and the Development of a Self-Rating Scale: A Research Report. J. Child Psychol. Psychiat. 22, 73/88
Scale 2. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D), originally published by Radloff in 1977, is a 20-item measure that asks the test takers to rate how often over the past week they experienced symptoms associated with depression, such as restless sleep, poor appetite, and feeling lonely. The CES-D also provides cutoff scores that aid in identifying individuals at risk for clinical depression, with good sensitivity and specificity and high internal consistency (Lewinsohn, Seeley, Roberts, & Allen, 1997).
Source: Lewinsohn, P.M., Seeley, J.R., Roberts, R.E., & Allen, N.B. (1997). Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) as a screening instrument for depression among community-residing older adults. Psychology and Aging, 12, 277- 287.