The evaluation of main sources of anxiety and fear for Covid 19 in Greece

Abstract

Introduction Covid19 has led in major changes in our lives, while fear was one of the major psychological symptoms that emerged in psychological first aid evaluations. Objectives The aim of the present study was to report the major factors creating anxiety and fear, affecting everyday life of people in Greece during the two years of the pandemic. Methods A sample of 1,158 Greeks (280 males [24.2%] participated voluntarily in the study through online platforms. The Fear factors was assessed through an open question which was then analyzed with SPSS 24. Results According to the findings, the main source of anxiety and fear arises from the situation that prevails in other European countries with increasing death rates (20.9%) presented in television, followed by what is shown in the news and news programs on television (14, 8%), the fear that the individual may get sick, watching television and radio (9.7%), the experts announcements in public (7.8%), the announcement of new measures by the government and the Ministry of Health in media (6.1%), the existence of elderly parents in the family (4.6%) and social networks (3.8%), while 12.6% stated that they have no fear or anxiety. Gender differences were significant in most of the factors x2=51.167 p=.001. Conclusions According to the findings the effect that media have in anxiety and fear creation (64.1%), a result that can be used in designing effective health measures that can help people deal with the psychological aftermath of the pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• fear
• Covid-19
• Anxiety