COVID-19 Concern Research Articles

Exploring the Linkages Among Chronic Illness, Substance Use, and COVID-19 Infection in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Representative Data.

The co-occurrence of chronic illnesses and substance use presents complex challenges for health care systems. Understanding the interplay between these factors, compounded by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential for effective intervention strategies. This study aims to investigate the relationships among chronic illness, substance use, and COVID-19 infection in adults aged 50 years and older. Participants were 1196 adults aged 50 years and older. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic information. Logistic regressions and multiple regression analyses were used to determine associations between chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection. Mediation analysis was used to determine the effect of chronic illness mediators in the association between COVID-19 concerns and substance use. The mean age was 68 (SD 10.3) years, with 58.6% (701/1196) being women. Adjusted analysis revealed that age and sex (women) significantly predicted a lower level of substance use (P<.05). However, marital status (separated or widowed) and chronic illness significantly predicted a higher level of substance use (P<.05). Furthermore, having dementia, arthritis, and high cholesterol significantly predicted a higher level of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic (P<.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals with hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% CI 1.37-2.66; P<.001), lung disease (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.23-4.75; P=.01), heart condition (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.10; P=.002), stroke (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.07-5.16; P=.03), and arthritis (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.25-2.37; P=.001) were more likely to have their work affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mediation analysis showed a significant effect of COVID-19 concern on substance use through the mediation of chronic illness, with a 95% CI of -0.02 to -0.01 and an indirect effect of -0.01. Our study reveals complex associations among chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection among adults aged 50 years and older. It underscores the impact of demographics and specific chronic conditions on substance use behaviors and COVID-19 concerns. In addition, certain chronic illnesses were linked to heightened vulnerability in employment status during the pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing physical health and substance use in this population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latent profile of personality traits for American older adults and its transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on older adults' personality development is essential for emergency management but under-researched. This study seeks to explore the personality profiles of older adults living in the United States and how these profiles transitioned during the pandemic. Longitudinal data were collected from 3,550 adults aged 60 and older who participated in both the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey (61.18% female, mean age 65.85 in 2016). Personality traits were assessed using the Midlife Development Inventory. COVID-19-related experiences including pandemic concerns, restricted healthcare access, financial instability, work challenges, disrupted social connections, and mutual aid behaviors. Latent Profile Analysis and Transition Analysis were used for analysis. Three distinct personality profiles were identified: Well-adjusted, Moderate-adjusted, and Poor-adjusted. About 42% of respondents experienced personality changes during the pandemic. Higher levels of COVID-19 concern were linked to an increased likelihood of transitioning to Poor-adjusted from Moderate (OR=1.06, p<0.05) or Well-adjusted (OR=1.05, p<0.01). Challenges such as healthcare delays and financial hardships hindered transitions from Poor- to Moderate-adjusted (Healthcare delay: OR=0.39, p<0.05; Financial hardships: OR=0.67, p<0.05) but increased the likelihood of Moderate-adjusted individuals transitioning to Poor-adjusted (Healthcare delay: OR=1.46, p<0.05; Financial hardships: OR=1.51, p<0.05). However, Poor-adjusted individuals who provided help to others were more likely to transition to Moderate-adjusted (OR=2.71, p<0.01). Personality transitions during crisis are significant among older adults. Future interventions should focus on addressing traumatic concerns, encouraging helping behaviors, and mitigating healthcare and financial challenges to support older adults' personality development during crisis.

Racializing COVID-19: Race-Related and Racist Language on Facebook, Pandemic Othering, and Concern About COVID-19

ABSTRACT To what extent have social media discussions of health racialized during the COVID-19 pandemic? How has the spread of racialized social media health content influenced attitudes about race and COVID-19? To answer these questions, we collected data on public US Facebook posts from 2019–2020 related to health and health care (n ≃ 9,659,000) and document a rise in race-related and racist language in online discussions directly-related to health during the pandemic. We show a substantive increase in Facebook posts connecting health to race and racism beginning around the announcement of the first declared case of COVID-19 in March 2020. Text analyses reveal that posts with explicitly racist language surrounding blame for COVID-19, discussions of unemployment rates and benefits, as well as immigration were shared more on average than the typical post about health generally. We connect the spread of this language on Facebook to survey responses (n ≃ 231,000) from Nationscape. We show that weekly increases in racist and race-related health language on Facebook are related to declines in concern for COVID-19 and heightened anti-Asian attitudes, especially for racially resentful white Facebook users.

What exacerbates and what eases Chinese rural residents’ depression during the COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing prevalence of mental disorders, particularly in China, where anti-epidemic measures have been more stringent compared to other countries. This has resulted in a heightened psychological burden on individuals. However, the actual psychological impacts of COVID-19 on Chinese residents have not been clearly established. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of various factors, including personal and household characteristics, social networks, and epidemic-related variables (such as rural residents' knowledge of COVID-19 virus transmission and prevention), on rural residents' depression. Using a two-year balanced panel dataset encompassing 152 villages and 676 samples in both 2019 and 2020, we employed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to estimate the influence of these factors and compare their coefficients to examine the changes in rural residents' depression between the pre-epidemic and during-epidemic periods. Our study highlights significant factors contributing to rural residents' depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, including isolation (2.063, p < 0.01) and concern about COVID-19 infection (0.128, p < 0.05). Conversely, factors such as health status (−0.714, p < 0.01) and the number of friends (−0.017, p < 0.01) were found to significantly alleviate depression among rural residents. Moreover, we identify key moderators that mitigate the negative impact of infection concerns on mental health. Specifically, the health status of rural residents (−0.166, p < 0.01), the size of their family network (−0.036, p < 0.05), and their knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and prevention (−0.184, p < 0.05) significantly moderated the relationship between infection concerns and depression. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological implications of the pandemic and provide valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions to address mental health challenges in rural populations.

How College Students Used Information From Institutions of Higher Education in the United States During COVID-19: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

The start of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions by US institutions of higher education at an unprecedented level. During the backdrop of an emerging pandemic, younger adults (eg, college students) had an overall lower risk for severe outcomes for SARS-CoV-2, making this population a potential source of transmission for age groups with high susceptibility and negative health outcomes. We examine how college students' level of concern for COVID-19 was influenced by different sources of information, their living status, income level, and other demographic identifiers and its association with prevention behavior change. We sought to examine the level of concern, defined as the extent to which the participant would take corrective action to mitigate contracting or spreading the virus (to family or friends) by using personal protective equipment such as a face mask, practicing social distancing, and following other public health recommendations, among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in 2021 among 185 college students aged 18-41 years, with most living in New York City and the United States (n=134, 72.4%). Out of 185 college students, 94 provided their zip codes, with 51 of those college students indicating they lived in New York City areas. The participants completed the survey via a QR code. Study participants who did not complete the full survey or were not college students in any US college or university were excluded. Analyses were conducted using R (version 4.2.2; R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Of 185 respondents participated in the study, 25 (13.5.%) used emails from their schools, 51 (27.6%) used mainstream media, and 109 (58.9%) used social media and other sources to obtain information about COVID-19. Of the 109 participants who learned about the pandemic from social media, 91 (83.5%) were concerned; however, only 63% (32/51) and 60% (15/25) of the participants who sourced information from mainstream media and their schools' email, respectively, were concerned. Further, the participants who received information from social media and other sources were about 3 times more likely to be concerned about COVID-19 than participants who received information from the university via email (P=.036; OR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.06-8.83).. College students who received information from social media and other sources were more likely to be concerned about COVID-19 than students who received information from their school via emails.

How Political Ideology and Media Shaped Vaccination Intention in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

As a pharmaceutical intervention, vaccines remain a major public health strategy for mitigating the effects of COVID-19. Yet, vaccine intake has been affected by various cognitive and cultural factors. We examine how a selected set of factors (i.e., knowledge, concern, media, peer influence, and demographics) shaped COVID-19 vaccination intention in the early phase of the pandemic (Fall 2020). Using a survey conducted in three US states (Idaho, Texas, and Vermont) just prior to the rollout of the first vaccines against COVID-19, we find that COVID-19 concern was the primary driver of vaccination intention. Concern was shaped mainly by two factors: political ideology and media sources. Yet, ideology and media were much more important in affecting concern for those who leaned politically conservative, as opposed to those who leaned liberal or remained moderate. The results from our structural equation models affirm that the information politically conservative respondents were receiving reinforced the effects of their ideology, leading to a greater reduction in their concern. We discuss the potential implications of these findings for future pandemic preparedness.

Changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic among American Indians residing in California and Oklahoma

ABSTRACT Background: This study explored the increased quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the American Indian (AI) population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore possible associations between covariables and both binge drinking and alcohol consumption during COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study analyzed data from a sample of AI individuals (63% female) residing in California (n = 411) and Oklahoma (n = 657) between October 2020-January 2021. Analysis included summary statistics and multivariable logistic regression, including a variety of socio-economic, COVID-19 concern, and tobacco and marijuana use variables. Results: One or more alcohol binge episodes were reported between October 2020-January 2021 in 19.3% of participants and elevated overall alcohol consumption was reported by 21.6% of participants. Higher odds of elevated alcohol consumption occurred in women and those following more social distancing measures. The odds of binge drinking or elevated alcohol consumption in those using both marijuana and tobacco (aOR/ adjusted odds ratio:18.9, 95% CI = 8.5, 42.2, and aOR:3.9, 95% CI = 1.7, 8.6, respectively) were higher compared to those using neither. Similarly, the odds of binge drinking or elevated alcohol consumption in those using tobacco only (aOR:4.7, 95% CI = 2.9, 7.7 and aOR: 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.5, respectively) were higher compared to those using neither. Conclusions: This study found high rates of alcohol use and bingeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offering collaborative, culturally sensitive, and affordable support services are important components of intervention and preparation for future stressful events on local, as well as global levels.

Predictors of mental health among U.S. adults during COVID-19 early pandemic, mid- pandemic, and post-vaccine eras

BackgroundA collective trauma like COVID-19 impacts individuals differently due to socio-contextual and individual characteristics. Younger adults, minorities, affiliates of certain political parties, and residents of some regions of the United States reported experiencing poorer mental health during the pandemic. Being diagnosed with COVID-19, or losing a friend/family to it, was related to more adverse mental health symptoms. While the negative impact of COVID-19 on health outcomes has been studied, mental health changes during this pandemic need further exploration.MethodsIn a study of 8,612 U.S. households, using three surveys collected from a nationally representative panel between May 2020 and October 2021, using a repeated cross-sectional design, a linear mixed effect regression model was performed to investigate factors associated with the mental health status, based on the Mental Health Inventory-5, of individuals throughout different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether an improvement over time, especially after vaccines became available, was observed.ResultsAn overall improvement in mental health was observed after vaccines became available. Individuals with no COVID-related death in their household, those not wearing masks, those identifying as members of the Republican Party, race/ethnicities other than Asian, men, older adults, and residents of the South were less likely than others to report mental health challenges.ConclusionsOur results highlight the need for widespread mental health interventions and health promotion to address challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Due to the worse mental health observed among Asians, younger adults, women, low-income families, those with a higher level of concern for COVID-19, people who lost someone to COVID-19, and/or individuals with histories of opioid use disorder and criminal legal involvement, over the period of this study, targeted attention needs to be given to the mental health of these groups.

The Relationship between Anxiety and The Behaviour of Parents in Bringing Their Children to be Immunized During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic causes fear and concern for parents to be infected with Covid-19 if they come to the Posyandu or health care facilities for immunization. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety and the behavior of parents in bringing their children immunized during the Covid-19 pandemic in the work area of Puskesmas III Denpasar Selatan. Methods: This study was a descriptive correlational study with a cross sectional approach. The sampling technique was used non-probability sampling with purposive sampling technique. The sample used 71 parents which have babies and toddlers with the age of 0-24 months. The data were collected in the work area of Puskesmas III Denpasar Selatan for one month from March to April 2022. The research instruments used were the Covid-19 Pandemic Anxiety Questionnaire and the Immunization Behavior Questionnaire During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Results: Spearman rank correlation test result showed that there was a significant relationship between anxiety and the behavior of parents in bringing their children immunized during the Covid-19 pandemic in the work area of Puskesmas III Denpasar Selatan (p value = 0.000; r = -0.858). Conclusion: Health workers are expected to be able to provide information to parents who have babies and toddlers about the importance of bringing their children immunized during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cluster and trajectory analysis of motivation in an emergency remote programming course.

Emergency remote teaching is a temporary change in the way education occurs, whereby an educational system unexpectedly becomes entirely remote. This article analyzes the motivation of students undertaking a university course over one semester of emergency remote teaching in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. University students undertaking a programming course were surveyed three times during one semester, about motivation and COVID concern. This work explores which student motivation profiles existed, how motivation evolved, and whether concern about the pandemic was a factor affecting motivation throughout the course. The most adaptive profile was highly motivated, more prepared and less frustrated by the conditions of the course. However, this cluster experienced the highest levels of COVID-19 concern. The least adaptive cluster behaved as a mirror image of the most adaptive cluster. Clear differences were found between the clusters that showed the most and least concern about COVID-19.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 CONCERNS ON OLDER ADULTS’ DEPRESSION: THE ROLES OF RACE/ETHNIC STATUS AND EDUCATION

Abstract Framed within the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Cumulative (Dis)advantage Theory, this study examined the association between COVID-19 concerns (worries) and risk of depression among older adults. The study also investigated whether race/ethnic status and education moderated this relationship. We used a nationally representative sample of Americans over age 50 from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study. Depression was defined as having greater than or equal to three depressive symptoms, as derived from the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. COVID-19 concerns were measured with respect to respondents’ own health, the health of family members, respondents’ financial situation, the ability to get help from family, friends, or others during the pandemic, and concerns about the future; the study also included a summative index of these concerns. The associations between COVID-19 concerns and older adults’ depression were estimated with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models. Compared to respondents with lower scores on the COVID-19 concern measures (the index and the five domains), those with higher scores were more likely to be depressed. The moderation models showed the relationship between respondents’ concerns about what will happen in the future and depression was not as strong among non-Hispanic Black older adults compared to non-Hispanic White older adults. There was no statistically significant moderation effect for education. The results imply that healthcare providers should focus on vulnerable older adults to reduce disparities in access to resources during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trends in Gastrointestinal Infections during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Concerns of Post-Pandemic Resurgence in Japan.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was very broad and substantial, affecting a variety of fields worldwide. In Japan, the infection began spreading in March 2020. At that time, the government alerted people to cancel overseas travel, and encouraged wearing of masks, handwashing, sanitizing and keeping social distance. We sought to determine how COVID-19 infections affected other infectious diseases by investigating the trends in seven gastrointestinal infections that are listed among the 77 important infectious diseases designated by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. We compared seven gastrointestinal infectious diseases, namely cholera, bacterial dysentery, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, amoebic dysentery, and giardiasis, in terms of numbers of new cases before the COVID-19 pandemic (2012-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2022). During the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022), the incidence of the seven infections decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with before the pandemic (2012-2019). The sharp and significant decline in incidence of these seven infections in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022) appears to be due to restrictions on overseas travel and strict anti-infection measures, such as self-quarantine and encouragement of handwashing and sanitizing. The number of new cases of gastrointestinal infections in Japan is expected to increase in 2024 as these measures lapse. It is important for physicians to continue to monitor trends in gastrointestinal infections and educate people about proper infection prevention.

Trauma as a Public Health Moment: Addressing Vaccine Uptake in Trauma Patients.

Our objective was to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in trauma patients and to provide an opportunity for patients to engage in conversations about vaccination. The trauma surgery service offers a unique opportunity to promote preventative health interventions in hard-to-reach populations. Trauma inpatients in Chicago, IL were recruited for this mixed-methods study from February 2022 to April 2022. Participants completed a survey on demographics, COVID-19 vaccination status, and Experiences of Discrimination Scale adapted for medical settings. Differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-rank sum test. A semistructured, qualitative interview was completed. Qualitative data was transcribed and analyzed using Grounded Theory Methodology. Fifty-eight trauma patients were surveyed, representing 88% of patients approached. Only 23 (40%) patients reported full vaccination to COVID-19. Previous vaccination (at least 1 dose) was associated with greater concern for COVID-19 (OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.987-6.964, P < 0.001) and higher income (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.44, P = 0.03). Higher Experiences of Discrimination Scale scores were associated with decreased likelihood of prior vaccination (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.04). On qualitative analysis, recurrent themes included vaccination motivated by either community-based or personal health-related values, and disinterest in vaccination based on perceived low need or skepticism of experimentation. Fifteen patients (26%) eligible for a vaccine dose consented to onsite vaccination after the survey. Trauma patients who have experienced more discrimination in medical settings have lower rates of COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination rates in our population were over 2 times lower than citywide rates, but admission to the trauma service can increase comprehensive care.

A Study of Covid-19 Impact on UTHM Students’ Mental Health

A new threat to humanity emerged in December 2019 in the form of the Corona viral sickness (COVID-19). This epidemic has an impact on the community's mental health, particularly that of university students. Furthermore, out of concern for Covid-19, many universities have decided to postpone in-person lessons and continue online instruction. The psychological repercussions of university students could be greatly affected by this move. A few unfavorable effects of the university's shutdown include frustration, tension, and anxiety. Therefore, the major goal of this study is to determine the state of mental health among students in UTHM during Covid-19 in terms of stress. In addition, it is important to research the elements that influence pupils' mental health throughout the epidemic. This study will discuss the factors that lead to the detrimental effects on UTHM students' mental health. By creating a survey questionnaire specifically for UTHM students, the survey is performed. Due to its convenience during the pandemic, the questions are completed using Google Forms. Later, using the analysis and statistics of the responses in the Google Form, the gathered information is examined to evaluate the trend in the mental health of UTHM students. High levels of stress and a few instances of suicidal thoughts have a considerable negative influence on the mental health of UTHM students, according to a study of the data collected. Therefore, the students turn to their friends who are close to one another as well as the group of community groups for aid. In conclusion, using the data from the Google forms to analyze links between UTHM students' mental health and variables that influence that state might be useful. Additionally, it is intended that this work will serve as a future resource for researchers.

Effect of COVID-19 Exposure and Concerns of Healthcare Workers on Their Hopelessness Levels

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of COVID-19 exposure and concerns of healthcare workers on their hopelessness levels. &#x0D; The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 290 health workers determined by power analysis in a hospital in Turkey. Information Form, the COVID-19 exposure form, the Scale of Concern for COVID-19, and the Hopelessness Scale were used as data collection tools in the study.&#x0D; The mean age of participants was 34.64  8.51 and the mean working year was 12.04 9.08. 71% of the participants were female and 62.8% of them were married. 49% of the healthcare workers had been working in the health sector for 10 years and below. &#x0D; It was determined that healthcare workers' concern level was a significant variable affecting the level of hopelessness, however, COVID-19 exposures did not affect. &#x0D; This study will provide data support to find out the effects of the factors such as concern and exposure on hopelessness during the pandemic and to plan appropriate interventions to fight against hopelessness.

COVID-19 and going concern problem: empirical evidence from an emerging economy

COVID-19 and going concern problem: empirical evidence from an emerging economy

COVID-19 Concerns, Coping and Perceived Peer Norms: Correlates of Increased Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Sexual Minority Women

ABSTRACT This study explored the impact of COVID-related concerns and other characteristics on alcohol and marijuana use among sexual minority women (SMW). Survey data from a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 338 SMW participants in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study were used to examine correlates of three substance use outcomes: frequent intoxication (once a month or more), perceived increase in alcohol use, and perceived increase in marijuana use. Coping motives for alcohol use was positively associated with each of the substance use outcomes. Belief that peers (in terms of age, sexual identity, and gender) used alcohol often to cope was associated with higher odds of frequent intoxication. COVID-19 related financial concerns were positively associated with both frequent intoxication and increased marijuana use. Health and mental health concerns were associated with lower odds of frequent intoxication. Findings underscore the importance of enhancing coping skills, addressing perceived peer coping norms, and providing both economic and social support in intervention efforts.

Should I Go Back to the Roots to Obtain My Food? Understanding Key Factors Driving U.S. Consumers’ Preferences for Food Foraging over Buying and Growing Food

Alternative forms of food procurement have increased in consumer popularity since the occurrence of food price inflation and the ongoing recession in the U.S. The present study explores predictors such as food engagement, food-related COVID-19 concerns, and the importance of sustainable foraging practices as determinants for U.S. consumers’ preferences for food foraging. Two scenarios are investigated, the preference for food foraging over growing food and food foraging over regular food buying. The study is based on an online consumer survey (n = 401) and used partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for the data analysis. Results indicate that food engagement is the strongest predictor for both foraging over buying and foraging over growing scenarios. However, food-related COVID-19 concern appears to only be relevant for the foraging over buying scenario and the importance of sustainable growing practices is only relevant for the foraging over growing scenario. These findings are important because they indicate the attitudinal triggers of food foraging and are therefore of relevance to foraging communities and managers in municipalities, food retail, and horticultural businesses who are associated with traditional and alternative forms of food procurement.

Sharing Lactation Research: Brief Report on COVID-19 and COVID Vaccine Concerns

Sharing Lactation Research: Brief Report on COVID-19 and COVID Vaccine Concerns

Factor analysis of Pregnant Women’s Concerns Scale of Contracting COVID-19 questionnaire

Introduction: The global pandemic caused by the emergence of COVID-19 resulted in increased anxiety, notably among pregnant women. Uncertainties linked to the increased concerns due to virus and this led to realizion of emphasing the necessity for tools to evaluate the fear contracting it. This study aims to create a Scale for Pregnant Women’s Concerns of being Contracted to COVID.Methods: A preliminary 5 point Likert-type scale comprising 29 items was distributed among 285 pregnant women. The statistical analysis conducted on the responses from 285 invidividuals that contracted COVID-19. The scale’s validity and reliability were assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, also the outcome of computation Cronbach’s alpha coefficients taken into assesment. Results: According to the factors analysis the scale components consisting 12 items, and 2 factors explained 51.81% of the overall variation. The Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient was determined to be 0.828. The Pregnant Women’s Concerns Scale for Contracting COVID-19 is a valid scale for Turkish pregnant women. Conclusion: Psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women affect their concerns of contracting COVID-19. It is recommended to apply this scale to sample groups from different cultures. This scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating pregnant women’s apprehensions regarding COVID-19 infection. Implementing this scale within prenatal health services will aid in identifying and addressing COVID-19 related concerns among individuals at an early stage pregnancy. Keywords: COVID-19 concern; pregnancy; reliability; scale development; validity