The proportion of death anxiety and its related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Iranian population

Abstract

Background The worldwide emergence of COVID-19 has brought about various psychological consequences, including anxiety, fear of death, etc Objectives This study was aimed at determining the proportion of death anxiety and its covariates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shahroud city, Iran Material and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,215 participants Data was collected by convenient sampling method with online tools, including an awareness and attitude checklist toward COVID-19, Templar Death Anxiety Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Questionnaire The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate linear regression analysis) The significant level for all tests was considered to be 0 05 Results The results indicated that the mean score ± standard deviation of death anxiety and GAD were 6 46 ± 3 33 and 6 27 ± 4 83, respectively Of all participants, 49 1% reported high death anxiety Parallel to the high anxiety level, a significant increase in death anxiety was observed (p < 0 001) Moreover, factors such as younger age and the death of a family member due to COVID-19 were significantly correlated with death anxiety (p = 0 024 and p = 0 001) Conclusions Assessing anxiety among exposed clients and applying anxiety reduction and coping methods, such as problem-solving techniques, as well as providing comprehensive and practical information on methods to control and adapt with this disease, are recommended to be implemented in health care systems © by Wydawnictwo Continuo