THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PHOBIA ON THE ANXIETY LEVELS OF ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all segments of society around the world. This study aims to examine the impact of Covid-19 phobia on the anxiety levels of adolescents. Having a descriptive and relational survey design, this study was conducted with 334 high school students who were chosen by power analysis. The study deployed Personal Information Form, Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42) High School Form as data collection tools. Linear regression analysis was used to test the impact of coronavirus phobia on anxiety, and an independent sample t-test to determine the difference across the mean scores in terms of having Covid-19. The mean score of the Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale, the related factors, and the factor of Anxiety was found to be significantly higher among adolescents who had Covid-19 compared to those who did not (p<.05). The results also suggested that coronavirus phobia had a statistically significant impact on anxiety (t=8,963, p<0.05). The results of the study implicated that high school students' coronavirus phobias affected their anxiety levels. 19.5% of the change in anxiety was explained by coronavirus-19 phobia.