Anxiety and related factors in parents about new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for children

INTRODUCTION: The aim of study was to determine the anxiety and related factors in parents about new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
METHODS: The sample of the descriptive study consisted of 494 parents with children aged 0-18. The data were collected during April-May 2020 with tools that were prepared via Google Docs, an online study. The link to the questionnaires was shared via social media. The volunteers were agreed to participate in the survey.


RESULTS: In the study, 94.5% of the parents participating are mothers, 69.5% are between the ages of 31-40 and 59.6% have one child. 31.8% of the parents stated that they worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, 90.3% applied social isolation or quarantine. The most frequent feeling that 83.6% of the parents was concern/anxiety, 69.0% used kitchen activities such as cooking and baking cakes as coping mechanisms, 68.4% used games, and painting activities with children.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, it was determined that parents' anxiety levels were mild. It is recommended that social and health initiatives be created to prevent and alleviate the psychosocial effects of the pandemic, and to develop programs that will reduce parents' anxiety.