Fear of COVID -19 Infection in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

The measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, closure of schools, social media posts, and decrease in social activities cause fear and anxiety in children. In our study, we aimed to investigate the level of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 in children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Children with GAD and healthy children who applied to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic between December 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. The participants were given a sociodemographic data form, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI), and the COVID-19 Fear Scale.47 patients with GAD and 41 healthy children were included in our study. The mean age of the patient group was 13.4±2.4 years, and 12.6±2.4 years in the control group. STAI-S average score; 49.5±9.7 in the patient group and 29.3±6.7 in the control group. STAI-T mean score; it was observed as 61.4±8.9 in the patient group and 32.6±6.2 in the control group. COVID-19 Fear Scale scores; 22.2±5.5 was detected in the patient group and it was thought that there may be a moderate fear of COVID-19. It was observed as 11.2±4.4 in the control group. The levels of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 were found to be high in children with GAD who did not have COVID-19 infection and were not quarantined. Studies on this subject in the literature are limited. We believe that our study will contribute to the literature on children with GAD showing more fear and anxiety during the pandemic period.

Keywords

• child
• anxiety
• covid-19
• fear

Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğu Tanısı Olan Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Covid-19 Enfeksiyonu Korkusu

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde alınan önlemler, sosyal izolasyon, okulların kapatılması, sosyal medya paylaşımları, sosyal aktivitelerin azalması çocuklarda korku ve kaygıya neden olmaktadır. Çalışmamızda Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğu (YAB) olan çocukların anksiyete ve COVID-19 korkusu düzeyini araştırmayı amaçladık. Aralık 2020-Şubat 2021 tarihleri arasında çocuk psikiyatri polikliniğine başvuran YAB tanılı çocuklar ile sağlıklı çocuklar değerlendirildi. Katılımcılara sosyodemografik veri formu, Durumluk-Sürekli Anksiyete Ölçeği (STAI) ve COVID-19 Korkusu Ölçeği verildi. Çalışmamıza YAB tanılı 47 hasta ile sağlıklı 41 çocuk katıldı. Hasta grubun yaş ortalamaları 13,4±2,4 yıl, kontrol grubunun 12,6±2,4 yıl olarak bulundu. STAI-S puan ortalaması; hasta grubunda 49,5±9,7, kontrol grubunda 29,3±6,7 bulundu. STAI-T puan ortalaması; hasta grubunda 61,4±8,9, kontrol grubunda 32,6±6,2 olarak gözlendi. COVID-19 Korkusu Ölçeği puanları; hasta grubunda 22,2±5,5 tespit edildi ve orta düzeyde COVID-19 korkusu olabileceği düşünüldü. Kontrol grubunda 11,2±4,4 olarak gözlendi COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmemiş ve karantinaya alınmamış, YAB tanılı çocukların anksiyete ve COVID-19 korkusu düzeyleri yüksek bulunmuştur. Literatürde bu konuda yapılan çalışmalar sınırlıdır. Çalışmamızın YAB olan çocukların pandemi döneminde daha çok korku ve kaygı göstermesi konusunda literatüre katkı sağlayacağına inanıyoruz.

Keywords

• çocuk
• anksiyete
• covid-19
• korku

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