Role of Health Anxiety, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Somatosensory Amplification in Predicting of Students' COVID-19 Anxiety

Abstract

People experience different levels of anxiety associated with the 2019 Coronavirus 19, which may affect their lives. The present study aimed to investigate the role of health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and somatosensory amplification in predicting of students' COVID-19 anxiety. The research design was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of the study included students of Guilan University in 2020. By using available sampling method, through online calling, 200 students participated in the study. Data were collected from the Covid-19 Anxiety Scale (Wheaton et al), Short-term health Anxiety Measurement (Salkovskis et al), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (Taylor et al), and somatosensory amplification Scale (Barsky et al). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation tests and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and somatosensory amplification were positively and significantly correlated with COVID-19 anxiety. Regression results showed that these variables significantly predicted 55% of the new coronavirus anxiety. It seems that the high anxiety level of COVID-19 in students, can enhance their anxiety and sensitivity about health state and they would exaggerate physical and emotional symptoms. Thus, the University's psychological and Counseling Services must take steps to reduce the anxiety of COVID-19 and increase students' awareness.

Keywords

• anxiety sensitivity
• covid-19 anxiety
• health anxiety
• somatosensory amplification