The Effect of Bee Products on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Covid-19 Prognosis in Young Adolescents Who Experienced Covid-19

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bee products on quality of life, anxiety, and the prognosis of Covid-19 in young adolescents who had contracted the virus. Material-Method: The population of this cross-sectional descriptive study comprised university students residing in a city center in Eastern Turkey. Data collection was conducted from January 2023 to January 2024, using a convenience sampling method, and included 514 participants. Data collection tools consisted of a sociodemographic characteristics information form, an apitherapy and nutritional supplement use form, the Turkish version of the SF-12 Health Survey, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). Additionally, a Structural Equation Model was developed and tested to explore the relationship between the use of apitherapy products, fear of Covid-19, and quality of life. Results: The study found that 25.3% of students used apitherapy methods during their Covid-19 illness, with honey being the most commonly used product (33.8%), and 50% of those who used these methods reported recovery from the disease. A significant difference was observed between the use of apitherapy methods and CAS scores, with those who used pollen reporting higher mean CAS scores. Gender, smoking status, and the use of apitherapy methods during Covid-19 were associated with fear of the virus. Conclusion: This study highlighted the potential benefits of bee products for young adolescents during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. It is recommended that future studies include larger, multicenter samples and provide comparative results for further validation.