Evaluation of the Behavior, Anxiety and Stress of University Students in the New Type of Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: Acute respiratory disease called COVID-19 caused by SARS- CoV-2 caused a pandemic affecting the whole world. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the cleaning behaviors and social behaviors, anxiety and stress situations of university students caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: At the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic; university students were asked questions about their socio- demographic characteristics, their cleaning and social habits, and their level of stress about being infected for themselves and their family members and also a questionnaire was applied which includes a generalized anxiety disorder scale to measure anxiety levels and Impact of Events Scale (IES) to assessing traumatic stress symptoms. Results: It was observed that hand washing behavior increased in 62.4% of 463 participants. The mean of the students' generalized anxiety score was determined as 3.86 +/- 4.86 and 17.5% (n = 81) of all students had high anxiety. The mean scores of the impact of event scale were 14.23 +/- 10.9 and stress points average was found as 5.57 +/- 2.9. Students' stress and anxiety affect their cleaning and social behaviors. In addition, when compared between student groups, anxiety, stress, and the IES and subscales were found to be significantly higher in female students and also in students of faculties other than medical students. Conclusions: The state of anxiety and stress caused by pandemics affecting the whole world on people affects society and human behavior. At the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, an increase is observed in university students, especially in handwashing. In addition, other student groups other than medical students and female students are more affected by anxiety, stress and events.