A STUDY ON THE RELATİONSHİP BETWEEN THE PERCEPTİON OF CAUSES OF COVİD-19 AND THE FEAR OF COVİD-19

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between the perception of the causes of Covid-19 and the fear of people aged 18 and over living in Turkey. An online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool in the study. 305 participants were selected by random sampling method. Survey form; The socio-demographic information form consists of three parts: Fear of Covid-19 and Perception of Causes of Covid-19 scales. Before the data analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes were performed, and then frequency, correlation and difference analyzes were applied at 95% confidence interval. According to the results obtained from the analysis data obtained; While there was a significant relationship between the fear of Covid-19 and the environmental sub-dimension of the perception of the causes of Covid-19 (r=0.128), no significant relationship was found between the conspiracy and belief sub-dimensions (r=0.046 and 0.108). Looking at the mean of fear of Covid-19, there is a moderate (2.76) participation and there is no significant difference according to socio-demographic characteristics. Considering the sub-dimensions of the Covid-19 intent perception scale; conspiracy (3.45), environment (3.23), and belief (2.70) seem to have moderate participation. It was determined that the conspiracy sub-dimension was significant according to the region of residence, and the environment sub-dimension was significant according to gender. It was stated that the participants agreed with the conspiracy sub-dimension the most about why Covid-19 might have arisen, that there was a statistically significant lowlevel positive relationship between the fear of Covid-19 and the environment sub-dimension, that Covid-19 was the conspiracy theory; the opinion that male participants participated more than female participants, those living in rural areas participated more than those living in urban areas, and that Covid-19 was caused by reasons related to faith; It was determined that male participants participated more than female participants, and primary school graduate participants attended more than undergraduate or graduate participants. As can be seen from the results obtained from the study, individuals who lost their relatives due to Covid-19 have more fear and panic at the highest level. In order to get rid of this emotional depression disorder, individuals should be followed under close surveillance. The questionnaire used within the scope of the research should be applied to different populations and comparative results should be included among the studies.