The Relationship between COVID-19 Fear and Anxiety with the Quality of Life of Students in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic led to mental disorders and a negative impact on people's quality of life. Due to the closure of universities and the holding of classes virtually, students experienced a great deal of fear and anxiety.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fear and anxiety and students' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.Method: In this descriptive correlational study, 304 students in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq in February and March 2021 were selected by convenience sampling method and entered into the study. Data were collected using sociodemographic form, fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19), Corona disease anxiety scale (CDAS), and COVID-19–impact on quality of life (COV19-QOL) scale.Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.61±3.53 years. Students had high levels of fear and moderate anxiety toward COVID-19, and this pandemic had a moderate effect on their quality of life. The mean score of all these variables in girls was significantly higher than in boys. There was a relationship between quality of life and fear and anxiety, so with increasing 1 point in the quality of life, the score of fear and anxiety changed by 0.27 and 0.35 points, respectively.Conclusion: There is a relationship between fear and anxiety and students' quality of life. Providing training classes on anxiety and fear control can improve their quality of life.

Keywords

• fear
• anxiety
• quality of life
• covid-19
• student