Assessment of the Level of Health Anxiety among College Students in a Private Higher Educational Institution during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, people who were exposed to the virus reported heightened health anxiety compared to the individuals with the absence of exposure related to the COVID-19 during the pandemic. Young adults reported higher levels of health anxiety when compared to other groups. To a certain extent, health anxiety serves a protective role until it becomes perseverate and dysfunctional. The researchers aim to describe the level of anxiety of college students by utilizing the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale to form a foundation for programs and policies that would address dysfunctional health anxiety. Methods: The researchers used a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive online survey research design to describe the level of COVID-19 health anxiety among college students in a private higher educational institution in Central Luzon, Philippines. Results: A total of 378 college students completed the survey. Analysis revealed that participants checked for symptoms of COVID-19 and were worried about possibly contracting COVID-19 for more than 7 days within two weeks (M=3.9; SD=1.5). It also revealed that the participants avoided situations that put them at risk for COVID-19 at a similar frequency (M=4.1; SD=0.4). Conclusion: The study reveals the sampled college students manifested COVID-19 anxiety for more than 7 days in a 2-week timeframe. This means that the students spend a significant amount of their time, in a two-week timeframe, worrying, checking, and avoiding situations that may put them at risk for COVID-19. These anxiety-induced behaviors may hinder the accomplishment of their activities of daily living or productive pursuits.