The Effects of Coronavirus Phobia and Enxiety States on Parents' Attitudes Towards Their Preschool Children

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of coronavirus phobia and anxiety states of the parents with 2–6-year-old children on their attitudes towards their children
 Methods: It was carried out the descriptive cross-sectional study. The study sample was composed of 275 parents of 2–6-year-old children in Turkey in winter 2021. During the data collection period, a ‘Descriptive Information Form, COVID-19 Phobia Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, and Parental Attitude Scale’ were generated on Google forms, and the link was sent to the parents through social media. 
 Results: The parents' mean score from the Beck Anxiety Scale was 33.40±9.97 and their mean score from COVID-19 Phobia Scale was 53.22±15.28. According to the Parental Attitude Scale, mean democratic attitude score of the parents was 73.73±6.09 and mean protective attitude score was determined as 30.55±5.98. A positive correlation was found between Beck Anxiety Scale and COVID-19 Phobia Scale (r= .461; p= .000).
 Conclusion: Severe anxiety symptoms and a moderate level of coronavirus fear were detected among the parents in the study. Moreover, anxiety and coronavirus phobia were positively correlated with authoritarian and protective parental attitudes. To support and follow children and parents by the nurses in physiological and psychological aspects through innovative approaches is very important