INVESTIGATION OF CORONAPHOBIA IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective The COVID-19 has affected all individuals in different age groups physically and psychosocially. University students have an important place among these individuals, and it is important to evaluate their psychosocial influences, such as coronaphobia. The aim of this study was to investigate coronaphobia in university students. Material and Method This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. Students attending university between November 2020 and March 2021 were included in the study. A form was created using Google Forms and then the demographic and descriptive characteristics of the participants, including age, gender, department of study, year, whether the participant has had COVID-19, and COVID-19 phobia, were obtained. The Coronavirus-19 Phobia Scale (CP19-S) was sent using Google Forms. Results Female students had higher points than males (p = 0.012). A statistically significant difference was determined in the psychological subdimension according to the year of study at the university (p = 0.004). A statistically significant difference was determined in the CP19-S total points (p = 0.022) and the somatic (p = 0.027) and economic (0.020) subdimensions for those students living together with a high-risk group for COVID-19. Conclusion In this study, it was determined that university students experienced coronaphobia at varying levels and for different reasons. Female gender, living together with individuals in a high-risk group, and studying at a higher year level were found to be factors that increase coronaphobia. Future studies should evaluate the effects of the pandemic. Moreover, university students should be provided with psychosocial support.

Keywords

• Coronaphobia
• COVID-19
• Fear
• Pandemic
• Students

ÜNİVERSİTE ÖĞRENCİLERİNDE KORONAFOBİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Amaç COVID-19 farklı yaş gruplarındaki tüm bireyleri fiziksel ve psikososyal olarak etkilemiştir. Bu bireyler arasında üniversite öğrencileri önemli bir yere sahiptir ve COVID-19’un koronafobi gibi psikososyal etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi önemlidir. Bu nedenle bu çalışmanın amacı üniversite öğrencilerinde koronafobiyi araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem Bu çalışma kesitsel bir çalışma olarak tasarlanmıştır. Araştırmaya Kasım 2020 ile Mart 2021 tarihleri arasında üniversiteye devam eden öğrenciler dahil edilmiştir. Google Formlar kullanılarak bir form oluşturulmuş ve bu form ile katılımcıların yaş, cinsiyet, öğrenim gördükleri bölüm, yıl, katılımcıların COVID-19 geçirip geçirmediği, COVID-19 fobisi olup olmadığı gibi demografik ve tanımlayıcı özellikleri sorgulanmıştır. Koronavirüs-19 Fobisi Ölçeği (CP19-S) de Google Formlar kullanılarak katılımcılara gönderilmiştir. Bulgular Kadın öğrencilerin erkek öğrencilerden daha yüksek koronafobi puanlarına sahip olduğu görülmüştür (p = 0.012). Üniversitede öğrenim gördüğü yıla göre psikolojik alt boyutta istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık saptanmıştır (p=0,004). COVID-19 için yüksek riskli bir grupla birlikte yaşayan öğrencilerin CP19-S toplam puanlarında (p=0,022) ve somatik (p=0,027) ve ekonomik (0,020) alt boyutlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark gözlenmiştir. Sonuç Bu çalışma ile üniversite öğrencilerinin farklı düzeylerde ve farklı nedenlerle koronafobi yaşadıkları belirlenmiştir. Kadın cinsiyet, yüksek risk grubundaki bireylerle birlikte yaşama ve daha yüksek bir sınıfta öğrenim görme koronafobiyi artıran faktörler olarak bulunmuştur. Gelecekteki çalışmalar pandeminin etkilerini değerlendirmelidir. Ayrıca üniversite öğrencilerine psikososyal destek sağlanmalıdır.

Keywords

• Pandemi
• COVID-19
• Öğrenciler
• Koronafobi
• Korku

References

1. 1. World Health Organization (WHO). Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [Internet]. WHO. 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/ default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf
2. 2. Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, Han M, Xu X, Dong J, et al. The psychologicalimpact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college studentsin China. Psychiatry Res. 2020;287:112934-.
3. 3. Zhai Y, Du X. Addressing collegiate mental health amid COVID- 19 pandemic. Psychiatry Res. 2020;288:113003.
4. 4. Arpaci I, Karataş K, Baloğlu M. The development and initial tests for the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S). Personality and Individual Differences. 2020;164:110108.
5. 5. Mei S, Yu J, He B, Li J. Psychological investigation of university students in a university in Jilin province. Med Soc (Berkeley). 2011;24(05):84-6.
6. 6. Chen Q, Liang M, Li Y, Guo J, Fei D, Wang L, et al. Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e15-e6.
7. 7. Li S, Wang Y, Yang Y, Lei X, Yang Y. Analysis of influencing factors of anxiety and emotional disorders in children and adolescents during home isolation during the epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia. Chinese Journal of Child Health. 2020;28(3):1-9.
8. 8. Yang Y, Li W, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Cheung T, Xiang YT. Mental health services for older adults in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e19.

9. 9. Statistical Cohen J. Analysis Power. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 1992;1(3):98-101.
10. 10. Yanarateş E. An Overall Evaluation of The Covid-19 Pandemic. Social Scientific Centered Issues. 2020;2:24-33.
11. 11. Chao M, Xue D, Liu T, Yang H, Hall BJ. Media use and acute psychological outcomes during COVID-19 outbreak in China. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2020;74:102248.
12. 12. Mertens G, Gerritsen L, Duijndam S, Salemink E, Engelhard IM. Fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19): Predictors in an online study conducted in March 2020. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2020;74:102258.
13. 13. Qiu J, Shen B, Zhao M, Wang Z, Xie B, Xu Y. A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. Gen Psychiatr. 2020;33(2):e100213.
14. 14. Shimizu K. 2019-nCoV, fake news, and racism. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):685-6.
15. 15. Taspinar B, Aslan UB, Agbuga B, Taspinar F. A comparison of the effects of hatha yoga and resistance exercise on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: a pilot study. ComplementTher Med. 2014;22(3):433-40.
16. 16. Elsharkawy NB, Abdelaziz EM. Levels of fear and uncertainty regarding the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) among university students. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. 2020; Jul;57(3):1356-1364. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12698.
17. 17. Nguyen HT, Do BN, Pham KM, Kim GB, Dam HTB, Nguyen TT, et al. Fear of COVID-19 Scale-Associations of Its Scores with Health Literacy and Health-Related Behaviors among Medical Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4164.
18. 18. Aristovnik A, Keržič D, Ravšelj D, Tomaževič N, Umek L. Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective. Sustainability. 2020;12(20):8438.
19. 19. Nakhostin-Ansari A, Sherafati A, Aghajani F, Khonji MS, Aghajani R, Shahmansouri N. Depression and Anxiety among Iranian Medical Students during COVID-19 Pandemic. Iran J Psychiatry. 2020;15(3):228-35.
20. 20. Saddik B, Hussein A, Sharif-Askari FS, Kheder W, Temsah MH, Koutaich RA, et al. Increased Levels of Anxiety Among Medical and Non-Medical University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2020;13:2395-406.
21. 21. Sartorão Filho CI, de Las Villas Rodrigues WC, de Castro RB, Marçal AA, Pavelqueires S, Takano L, et al. Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Health Of Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Using GAD-7 And PHQ-9 Questionnaires. med- Rxiv. 2020:2020.06.24.20138925.
22. 22. Xiao H, Shu W, Li M, Li Z, Tao F, Wu X, et al. Social Distancing among Medical Students during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in China: Disease Awareness, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Behavioral Activities. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(14):5047.
23. 23. Akdeniz G, Kavakci M, Gozugok M, Yalcinkaya S, Kucukay A, Sahutogullari B. A Survey of Attitudes, Anxiety Status, and Protective Behaviors of the University Students During the COVID- 19 Outbreak in Turkey. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:695.