Examining the Relationships between Quality of Life and Preventive Behaviours during COVID-19

Abstract

Preventive behaviors (such as keeping social distance, not going out, washing hands) to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic can have negative effects on people's quality of life. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationships among complying with preventive behaviors in order to prevent the spread of the virus and people’s quality of life in terms of various demographic variables. The research was approved by Mardin Artuklu University Ethical Commission (Date: 11.04.2020, Decision no. 34233153-050.04.04). Data were collected from 1308 people with an age range varying between 18-64 years from the seven geographic regions of Turkey. Findings revealed that (a) the levels of exhibiting preventive behaviors differ according to some demographic variables such as gender, (b), the level of exhibiting preventive behaviors is above the medium level, (c) the quality of life differs significantly according to the geographical region, gender and socioeconomic level, (d) the level of quality of life is related to preventive behaviors and differs according to demographic variables, and (e) preventive behaviors of hand washing and staying away from social environment predicts quality of life positively, while the preventive behaviors of staying at home and using masks/gloves predicts the quality of life negatively. The results indicate that the psychological, social and environmental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken into account along with the medical consequences.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• quality of life
• preventive behaviors

COVID-19 Sürecinde Önleyici Davranışlar ile Yaşam Kalitesi Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Öz

COVID-19 pandemisini önlemek amacıyla önleyici tedbirlerin (sosyal mesafe, sokağa çıkmama, elleri yıkamak gibi hijyen kurallarına uyma) insanların yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkileyebileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu bağlamda, virüsün bulaşmasını önlemek amacıyla önleyici davranışlara uyma düzeyi ile insanların yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişkinin çeşitli demografik değişkenler açısından incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma, Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi 11.04.2020 tarih ve 34233153-050.04.04 sayı kararı ile etik açıdan uygun bulunduktan sonra çalışmanın verileri toplanmaya başlanmıştır. Araştırma, Türkiye’nin yedi bölgesinden 18-64 yaş aralığında toplam 1308 katılımcıyla yürütülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçları, (a) katılımcıların önleyici davranışlara uyma düzeylerinin cinsiyet gibi bazı demografik değişkenlere göre farklılık gösterdiğini, (b) genel anlamda önleyici davranışlara uyma düzeyinin yüksek olduğunu, (c) yaşam kalitesinin coğrafi bölge, cinsiyet ve sosyoekonomik düzeye göre anlamlı düzeyde farklılaştığını, (d) yaşam kalitesi düzeyinin önleyici davranışlarla ilişkili olduğunu, ve (e) el yıkama ve sosyal ortamdan uzak durmanın yaşam kalitesini pozitif; evde kalma ve maske/eldiven kullanmanın ise yaşam kalitesini negatif yordadığını ortaya koymuştur. Elde edilen bu sonuçlar, COVID-19 pandemisi döneminde medikal sonuçlarla birlikte psikolojik, sosyal ve çevresel sonuçların da göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiğini işaret etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• Pandemi
• Yaşam kalitesi
• Önleyici davranışlar

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