Assessing the Level of Engagement in Preventive Behaviors and COVID-19 Related Anxiety in Iranian Adults

Background: The outbreak of Covid-19 virus is a global crisis and engagement of people in preventive behavior against COVID-19 has a key role to stop chains of transmission and adherence to preventive measures can be affected by psychosocial factors. This study aimed at assessing the relationship between the level of adherence to preventive behaviors and COVID-19 related anxiety in Iranian adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional correlational study, 1008 Iranian adults were selected by the convenience sampling method. The online questionnaire of Preventive Behavior against COVID-19 and the Corona Anxiety Scale was sent to research participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics and SPSS 24 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The average total score of engagement in preventive behavior was 19.47±2.35. Some behaviors such as keeping social distance, wearing masks in public places and staying at home was engaged less than other behaviors. The COVID-19 related anxiety was severe in 22.4% of subjects, moderate in 34.9% of subjects and low in 42.7% of subjects. There was a significant relationship between the preventive behaviors and COVID-19 related anxiety (r=0.203, P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the scores obtained from engagement in preventive behaviors and Anxiety Intensity with demographic variables (P<0.001). Conclusion: Being aware of the general state of preventive behavior of the general public and their experienced anxiety about the disease and identifying at-risk individuals, health policy makers can, shift disease control planning to a greater emphasis on less observed behaviors and positively induce disease anxiety and improve preventive behaviors.