Abstract: the COVID-19 pandemic not only increases the threat to physical health, but also affects the psychological well-being. According to studies by foreign researchers (China, the UK), anxiety, depression and stress increased sharply during the pandemic. The article discusses the results of a study conducted in April 2020 by the online survey method among a Russian-speaking sample. The sample consists of 412 respondents over 18 years old. One of the objectives of the study is to research the features of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in different age groups. The level and structure of anxiety in different age groups are analyzed. Statistically significant differences are obtained by Kruskal-Wallis test. The groups that are most susceptible to anxiety-depressive response in a pandemic situation have been identified. The results of the study showed that the most vulnerable are the younger age group, as well as respondents aged 45 – 54 years. Therefore, preventive work should be primarily aimed at these age groups, but have different specifics. This is due to the fact that in the younger age group, phobic reactions predominate, while in the group of 45-54 years old, anxiety is associated with fears for their health and economic well-being. Another aim of the study is to research the dynamics of anxiety experience in different age groups. The first stage was carried out during the period of rising incidence, the second stage was at the peak of the incidence rate, and the third stage is planned after the restrictive measures related to COVID-19 are removed.
Keywords: anxiety, depression, pandemic, COVID-19