Evaluating Factors Related to Health Anxiety in COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak affects both the physical and mental health of individuals and society. This study investigates the factors related to health anxiety in COVID-19 patients and explores their sociodemographic-, disease-, and treatment-related factors, trait anxiety, and characteristics of secure or insecure attachment. Methods: The sample consisted of 420 individuals aged 18-65 years and diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 15 and May 15, 2020. The participants completed a sociodemographic data form and the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that female gender, presence of chronic physical diseases, presence of mental health problems, and high AAS insecure attachment scores significantly predicted high HAI scores. Moreover, results indicated that the model explained approximately 21% of variance in HAI scores. Conclusions: Factors such as gender, presence of chronic physical diseases, presence of mental health problems, and attachment style influence health anxiety. Determining the appropriate factors that cause health anxiety can contribute to the implementation of protective measures for mental health and to the application of effective interventions for individuals who develop mental problems.