Page 82 - IJPS-9-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Social contact and coronavirus anxiety

study may overcome these limitations as it was not possible Methodology: Debaraj Das, Suchitra Pal
to evaluate the impact of these variables in the present Writing – original draft: Debaraj Das, Suchitra Pal
study. Writing – review & editing: All authors

5. Conclusion Ethics approval and consent to participate
One of the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on mental A cover page was included in the online survey to inform
health is manifested by the increased level of anxiety. all participants that participation in the survey is voluntary
The level of anxiety is influenced by the perceived risk and anonymous and the survey data would be used
and demographics. Contrary to the general belief that for research only. Hence, no further ethical approval is
healthcare workers perceived high risk due to their work required.
environment, this study did not discern any significant
difference in the risk perception levels between the general Consent for publication
public and hospital nurses. However, our study revealed Not applicable.
that hospital nurses exhibited higher level of anxiety
compared to the general public. Hence, based on this Availability of data
result, the provision of mental health services to counter The data are not publicly available. Data are available from
anxiety among health-care professionals, especially the the corresponding author on reasonable request.
hospital nurses, during a pandemic is highly essential. One
of the key findings of the study is that knowing someone References
close infected with the virus has an escalating effect on
the anxiety level, though it was more profound among Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Toolkit on
women of all groups. While the pandemic has cost lives State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing
Homes. Version 26. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/
of many people, the fact that knowing close friends and files/document/covid-toolkit-states-mitigate-covid-19-
relatives being infected with COVID-19 could adversely nursing-homes.pdf [Last accessed on 2023 Sep 11].
influence mental health of the people cannot be ignored.
Thus, proper communication, counseling, and treatment Das, D., & Pal, S. (2021). Do socio-demographic and corona
should be performed to lessen the anxiety among the reassurance-seeking behaviour predict corona anxiety?-a
study among Indian population. Asia Pacific Journal of
affected individuals. Since both gender and age were found Health Management, 16(2):86-93.
to play a significant role in the level of CA, as evident
by our observation that different age groups and gender https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v16i2.659
exhibited different levels of anxiety during the pandemic, De Zwart, O., Veldhuijzen, I.K., Elam, G., Aro, A.R., Abraham, T.,
different mental health services catering to different age Bishop, G.D., et al. (2009). Perceived threat, risk perception,
groups and gender may help in coping with the increased and efficacy beliefs related to SARS and other (Emerging)
level of anxiety. infectious diseases: Results of an international survey.
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16(1):30-40.
Acknowledgments https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-008-9008-2

The authors acknowledge the contributions made by all the Douglas, M., & Wildavsky, A. (1983). Risk and Culture: An
respondents, both the general public and hospital nurses Essay on the Selection of Technological and Environmental
in India, for participating in the survey for the research Dangers. United States: University of California Press.
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520907393
Funding Dryhurst, S., Schneider, C.R., Kerr, J., Freeman, A.L.J., Recchia, G.,
Van der Bles, A. M., et al. (2020). Risk perceptions of
None. COVID-19 around the world. Journal of Risk Research,
Conflict of interest 23:1-13.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2020.1758193
The authors declare that they have no competing interests
in carrying out this research. Feehan, J., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2021). Is COVID-19 the worst
pandemic? Maturitas, 149: 56–58.
Author contributions https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.02.001

Conceptualization: Debaraj Das, Suchitra Pal Harper, C.A., Satchell, L.P., Fido, D., & Latzman, R.D. (2020).
Formal analysis: All authors Functional fear predicts public health compliance in the

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 76 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1211