The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Archives of psychiatric nursing 2023-04, Vol.43, p.15-21
• Main Authors: Güdül Öz, Hatice, Nazik, Evşen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Fear - psychology; Fear of COVID-19; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Persons with disabilities; Stress; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0883-9417; 1532-8228
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.12.019

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and the depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities. In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected using an online survey from 178 persons with disabilities using the Personal Information Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). The mean age of the participants was 34.08 ± 11.8 years. The disability types that participants had were related to vision (47.2 %), hearing (25.8 %), mobility (24.7 %), cognitive (8.4 %), and chronic disease (10.1 %). It has been determined that 73.6 % of the participants stated that their access to healthcare services was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean DASS-21 was 10.24 ± 8.25 and the mean FCV-19S was 17.71 ± 5.05. A positive correlation was found between DASS-21 and FCV-19S. The pandemic has created a need to provide appropriate interventions to improve the psychosocial health of persons with disabilities. •The pandemic have more dramatic effects on persons with disabilities (PWD), one of the most vulnerable population groups.•In previous studies and in this study, it was reported that PWD had difficulties in accessing health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.•As PWD can be more vulnerable in terms of higher depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of the COVID-19 disease than general population, mental health policy and support programs should pay special attention to the psychological needs of PWD.