Objective:

To identify the anxiety level of adults in compulsory social isolation by COVID-19 in a neighborhood of a city in Peru based on participants' sociodemographic characteristics.

Materials and methods:

Descriptive cross-sectional study developed during compulsory social isolation in Peru (March-June). The instrument was delivered to participants' homes, and collected either at their residence or sent to the researcher's email between the 7th and 12th day of isolation. With a population of 142 adults, the sample comprised 67 participants. Anxiety levels were identified using Zung's Self-Assessment Anxiety Scale (1971) and a questionnaire containing nine sociodemographic variables.

Results:

Anxiety reached 43.3 % of participants, 20.9 % of them presented mild anxiety levels, 13.4 % moderate, and 9 % severe. The anxiety level according to sociodemographic variables was more frequent in female respondents, people aged 40 and over, those married/living together and divorced/separated, those who have been from 10 to 12 days in isolation, those who are in the company of someone, subjects affected by economic limitations, or respondents who do not engage in distracting activities.

Conclusion:

Anxiety levels during a pandemic can be reduced when the length of isolation is as short as possible, the person receives accurate information, is informed by reliable means of communication, has sufficient supplies to reduce the frequency of outings, has a stable financial situation, carries out recreational activities, and when communication (physical or virtual) improves.

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