Anxiety Management among Non-Clinical Society towards COVID-19 Pandemic in the Iranian Context

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful and overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of anxiety of non-clinical individuals in the Iranian community towards COVID-19 in Tehran. The present study is a descriptive correlational method with 308 individuals participating in the study through an online recall. A researcher-made coronary anxiety questionnaire with 18 questions was used to collect data. The data were analyzed by using Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency and Guttman’s λ2 method. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Lisrel-8.8 software was used to evaluate the tool construct validity. To standardize the raw scores, they were converted to standard T scores and percentile rank using Jmetrik-4.1.1 software and were prepared as normative tables. The Guttman’s λ2 value for the whole questionnaire was obtained as (λ = 0.922), Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for psychological symptoms as (α = 0.879), physical symptoms as (α = 0.861), and for the whole questionnaire as (α = 0.919). The range of scores of the questionnaire factors and total score of COVID-related anxiety severity based on standard T scores was divided into three domains: mild, moderate, and severe. The increase in psychological and physical symptom scores of coronavirus anxiety was significantly associated with physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. The fact that anxiety acts as a predisposing and health-threatening variable has confirmed that other researchers should examine its psychometric properties in other populations (especially compared to the clinical population to increase the diagnostic value of this questionnaire) as well as in relation to other psychological, social and medical concepts and variables.