ABSTRACT
COVID -19 epidemic can be associated with variety of anxious responses and safety behaviors. Present research explored the psychological implications associated with covid-19 during the outbreak in 2020 till date. Pakistani media has given particular attention to this outbreak in the region. Three hundred and forty-seven undergraduate university students from Pakistan completeda battery of questionnaires focusing fear of Covid -19, associated safety behaviors, factual knowledge of covid-19and other psychological pointers hypothesized to be as predictors of anxious responses to covid-19 threat. The sample appeared to be fearful of covid-19 and this fear was related to disgust sensitivity, anxiety sensitivity-related physical concerns, body vigilance, contamination cognitions and general distress. Results suggested that tendency of overestimating severity of contamination and anxiety sensitivity towards physical concerns are significant predictors of Covid-19 related fear and consequent safety behaviors. Implications are discussed in the light of managing and conceptualizing clinical symptoms related to serious epidemic. Keywords: COVID-19; Health anxiety; Safety Behaviors; Pakistan