Examining the correlation between COVID-19-related anxiety level and health perception in adults

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the level of anxiety caused by COVID-19 and health perception in adult individuals in Turkey. Methods: The population of this descriptive study consisted of individuals between the ages of 18-60 living in Turkey, and the sample consisted of 931 people who agreed to participate in the study. The data of the research were collected using an online questionnaire. Personal Information Form, which includes the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-TX) and Health Perception Scale (PHS) were used to obtain the data. Number, mean, standard deviation, percentage, ttest, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Results: It was determined that the mean STAI score of the participants was 45.4±11.8 and the mean PHS score was 46.7±8.0, and there was a negative correlation between health perception and anxiety level. Gender, education level, income status, presence of chronic disease were determined as risk factors for anxiety level, gender, income status and presence of chronic disease were determined as risk factors for health anxiety. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that as the health perceptions of adult individuals increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, their anxiety levels decreased.