COVID-19 Anxiety in among the People of North Iran and its Relationship with Some Factors in 2020–2021

Zahra Sabzi; Hamide Mencheri; Khadijeh  Yazdi; Zahra  Royani

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.9635

Authors

Zahra Sabzi Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Scienses, Gorgan, Iran
Hamide Mencheri Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Khadijeh Yazdi Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Zahra Royani Department of Surgical Technology, Faculty Member of Paramedical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.9635

Keywords:

Coronavirus, Anxiety, Gorgan

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: COVID-19 infection is a highly contagious disease that has affected a large population worldwide. The total number of deaths due to this virus is more than the cases caused by any of its predecessors. As there is little information about this disease, it causes anxiety in the community. Due to the lack of research in this field to assess mental health concerns during the disease, the present study was conducted to assess COVID-19 Anxiety in among the people of northern Iran and its Relationship with Some Factors

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was conducted in Gorgan in 2020. Sampling was done using Convenience sampling method and a sample size of 400 people was obtained. Data were collected online using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). The collected data were analyzed using Spearman, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests by SPSS version 23. In order to deduce quantitative responses, normality was first measured. Statistical significance level was considered at P=0.05.

Results: The results showed that COVID-19 anxiety in the people of Gorgan was 15.76±9.34. Most of the participants (n=243, 60.8%) had low levels of anxiety. Also, COVID-19 anxiety in mental dimension (11.32±5.5) was higher than anxiety in physical dimension (4.44±4.78) in the people of Gorgan. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test also showed that the mean score of anxiety was significantly correlated with education level (P=0.01) and different occupation levels (P<0.001). Regarding gender, Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of anxiety between men and women (P=0.003).

Conclusion: The results indicate that following the COVID-19 pandemic as an emerging disease, although the anxiety of the people of Gorgan was generally at a low level, but this anxiety was more in the mental dimension than in the physical dimension. Therefore, in order to maintain and promote the mental health of people in the community, it is suggested to pay more attention to the mental dimensions caused by the disease. Adopting programs to promote mental health can also be helpful.

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