Investigating the relationship between spiritual health, social factors and hypochondriasis among students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran

Spiritual health represents the last dimension introduced to the overall notion of health and could even be regarded as the most critical dimension. This study investigates spiritual health and social factors associated with it among students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). The study was cross-sectional research in which the respondents were 400 enrolled students of different disciplines at SUMS selected through random multistage sampling. Electronic questionnaires were used to collect data. Due to COVID-19 restrictions when the study was conducted in 2021, the classes were held online, and the whole process lasted about two months. The data collected were analyzed in SPSS 19 based on such statistical procedures as mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results revealed that, the students' spiritual health was generally above average, and based on the respondents' views, the most important dimensions of spiritual health were "behavior”, "orientation”, and "insight”, respectively. The findings also showed a significant difference in the participants' spiritual health about their marital status, place of residence, and respective school (P<0.05);Being married, living in rural regions, studying nursing, and having completed fewer semesters could contribute to increased spiritual health. The more semesters the students completed, the less spiritual health they experienced (r=-0.134;P<0.001). The reason for this is that increasing the levels of spiritual health would depend on an individual's ability to change his/her intellectual insights and emotional orientations. However, these two factors may decline as students begin their academic studies. The level of hypochondriasis was low, and this variable variable was not significantly associated with spiritual health (P>0.05). In response, policymakers must find solutions to this problem by formulating plans that could ideally enhance students' levels of spiritual health. © 2023, Mahidol University - ASEAN Institute for Health Development. All rights reserved.

Mental health status of college students during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.

Objective To investigate the psychological characteristics of college students during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so as to provide a basis for psychological intervention. Methods From May 17, 2020 to Jun. 17, 2020, the adjusted psychological questionnaires for emergent events of public health (PQEEPH) was surveyed among the college students of Beijing Union University. The questionnaire included 5 dimensions: depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive-compulsive anxiety, and hypochondriasis. Four grades were scored according to the degree and frequency of emotional responses: 0 means no symptoms, 1 means mild symptoms, 2 means moderate symptoms, and 3 means severe symptoms. Results A total of 3 019 valid questionnaires were collected. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the emotional responses of college students, from the most serious to the least, were fear, neurasthenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive anxiety, and hypochondriasis, with the incidences being 87.7% (2 648/3 019), 44.8% (1 353/3 019), 37.4% (1 129/3 019), 17.3% (522/3 019), and 11.6% (350/3 019), respectively. The fear scores of female students were higher than those of male students (P<0.001), the fear scores of college students from towns/suburbs were higher than those from rural and urban areas (both P<0.017), the scores of depression, neurasthenia and obsessive-compulsive anxiety of college students with confirmed COVID-19 cases around them or their relatives participated in the epidemic prevention and control as medical staff or logistics support personnel were higher than those without such conditions (all P<0.017), and the scores of depression, obsessive-compulsive anxiety and hypochondriasis of college students with suspected COVID-19 cases around them were higher than those without such condition (all P<0.017). Females were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than males (odds ratioOR=1.53, 95% confidence intervalCI1.25-1.88, P<0.001), those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases around them were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than those without such conditions (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.29-3.20, P=0.002), and those living in towns/suburbs were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than those living in rural and urban areas (OR=0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.94, P=0.015;OR=0.78, 95% CI 0.63-0.97, P=0.025). Conclusion COVID-19 epidemic has impact on the psychology of college students. It is necessary to pay attention to the mental health of college students and provide targeted psychological counseling for them.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Mental health status of college students during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic

Objective To investigate the psychological characteristics of college students during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so as to provide a basis for psychological intervention. Methods From May 17, 2020 to Jun. 17, 2020, the adjusted psychological questionnaires for emergent events of public health (PQEEPH) was surveyed among the college students of Beijing Union University. The questionnaire included 5 dimensions: depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive-compulsive anxiety, and hypochondriasis. Four grades were scored according to the degree and frequency of emotional responses: 0 means no symptoms, 1 means mild symptoms, 2 means moderate symptoms, and 3 means severe symptoms. Results A total of 3 019 valid questionnaires were collected. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the emotional responses of college students, from the most serious to the least, were fear, neurasthenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive anxiety, and hypochondriasis, with the incidences being 87.7% (2 648/3 019), 44.8% (1 353/3 019), 37.4% (1 129/3 019), 17.3% (522/3 019), and 11.6% (350/3 019), respectively. The fear scores of female students were higher than those of male students (P<0.001), the fear scores of college students from towns/suburbs were higher than those from rural and urban areas (both P<0.017), the scores of depression, neurasthenia and obsessive-compulsive anxiety of college students with confirmed COVID-19 cases around them or their relatives participated in the epidemic prevention and control as medical staff or logistics support personnel were higher than those without such conditions (all P<0.017), and the scores of depression, obsessive-compulsive anxiety and hypochondriasis of college students with suspected COVID-19 cases around them were higher than those without such condition (all P<0.017). Females were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than males (odds ratio[OR]=1.53, 95% confidence interval[CI]1.25-1.88, P<0.001), those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases around them were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than those without such conditions (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.29-3.20, P=0.002), and those living in towns/suburbs were more likely to have moderate to severe fear than those living in rural and urban areas (OR=0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.94, P=0.015;OR=0.78, 95% CI 0.63-0.97, P=0.025). Conclusion COVID-19 epidemic has impact on the psychology of college students. It is necessary to pay attention to the mental health of college students and provide targeted psychological counseling for them.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety in COVID-19 infected patients with lung involvement in inpatient units

Aim: Although numerous community-based studies and case reports have been published on COVID-19 and its psychological effects, studies involving hospitalized patients are limited. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate indicators associated with anxiety, depression, and health anxiety in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Material(s) and Method(s): One hundred ninety-eight patients hospitalized with diagnoses of COVID-19 pneumonia were included in the study. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics and initial presentation variables were obtained from hospital records and information forms. Severity of lung involvement (SLI) was obtained from thoracic computed tomography (CT) records. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Whiteley Index-7 (WI-7) were applied to all participants. Result(s): HADS-A levels were higher among female patients than among men (p=0.003). Higher WI-7 scores were determined in patients with mild SLI compared to those with moderate-severe SLI (p=0.012). HADS-A scores were higher in patients with primary symptoms of dyspnea, and HADS-D scores were higher in participants with primary symptoms of cough (p=0.026 and p=0.008, respectively). Discussion(s): Female gender, severity of lung involvement, and symptoms of dyspnea and cough were identified as clinical indicators in terms of mental health evaluation. We think that our results will be a guide for determining the psychiatric support requirements of COVID-19 patients.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.

Addiction to medical websites post COVID-19 pandemic: a predictor of illness anxiety disorder among Arabian youth

BackgroundThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted every region of the world. During these unprecedented times, college students have been experiencing severe mental health issues concerning excessive internet usage. On average, 42.9% of students in Egypt utilized the internet (Anwar et al. in J Public Health 30:1753–1762, 2022). Arabs quickly diagnose themselves online using medical websites. The issue is exacerbated by drugs bought without a prescription (Alghadeer et al. in Saudi Pharm J 26:719–724, 2018).MethodsThis study examined he relationship between addiction to medical websites and behaviors related to Illness Anxiety Disorder among a population of Arabic university students. A sample consisting of N = 368 youths was examined.ResultsBivariate linear regression, Z score, R2, t-test, ANOVA, mean, and standard deviation were used for statistical analysis. The findings of the study revealed a linear equation that predicts illness anxiety in adolescents. The correlation between medical website addiction and hypochondria was found to be 0.69. Furthermore, male participants were more addicted to medical websites than female participants.ConclusionsFindings supported the notion that addiction to medical websites significantly predicts hypochondria.

Co-Occurring Physical Health Challenges in Neurodivergent Children and Young People: A Topical Review and Recommendation

Background: Neurodivergence has been established as associated with a significant number of co-occurring physical conditions, particularly for autistic individuals who are at risk for increased pain, hypermobility (including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and gastrointestinal problems. However, data, so far, has been focused on adults and generally limited to discussions of condition prevalence alone. Method(s): The following article will present a topical review of the literature considering evidence for increased physical health concerns within neurodivergent populations, particularly autistic individuals, with a focus on the impact that these physical health concerns may have in an educational setting. Results and discussion: The impact of physical health concerns within neurodivergent populations in an educational setting may be concerning. Such populations may face a range of challenges in obtaining appropriate support for physical conditions. We discuss a number of said challenges including;communication challenges, misattributing physical health symptoms as a part of neurodivergence, and a history of not being believed, which limits symptomatic reporting. We further consider the potential impact these physical health concerns may have on scholastic and social development, such as impacts for attainment and attendance. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for teachers, parents/carers and other allied professionals in young people's lives, on supporting young neurodivergent people with physical health concerns.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The association of severe COVID anxiety with poor social functioning, quality of life, and protective behaviours among adults in United Kingdom: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety about COVID-19 is common. For most people this is an appropriate response to the loss of livelihoods and loved-ones, disruptions to social networks, and uncertainty about the future. However, for others these anxieties relate to contracting the virus itself, a phenomenon termed COVID anxiety. Little is known about the characteristics of people with severe COVID anxiety or the impact it has on their daily lives. METHODS: We conducted a two-phase cross-sectional survey of people aged 18 or over who were living in United Kingdom, self-identified as anxious about COVID-19, and had a score of ≥9 on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. We recruited participants nationally through online adverts and locally via primary care services in London. Data on demographic and clinical factors were used in multiple regression modelling to examine the greatest contributors to functional impairment, poor health-related quality of life and protective behaviours in this sample of individuals with severe COVID anxiety. RESULTS: We recruited 306 people with severe COVID anxiety between January and September 2021. Most were female (n = 246, 81.2%); they had a median age of 41 (range = 18-83). The majority of participants also had generalised anxiety (n = 270, 91.5%), depression (n = 247, 85.5%), and a quarter (n = 79, 26.3%) reported a physical health condition which put them at increased risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19. Half had severe social dysfunction (n = 151, 52.4%). One in ten reported never leaving their home, one in three washed all items brought into their house, one in five washed their hands constantly, and one in five of those with children reported not sending them to school because of fears of COVID-19. Increasing co-morbid depressive symptoms best explained functional impairment and poor quality of life after controlling for other factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high degree of co-occuring mental health problems, and the extent of functional impairment and poor health-related quality of life among people with severe COVID anxiety. Further research is needed to establish the course of severe COVID anxiety as the pandemic progresses, and steps that can be taken to support people who experience this distress.

Cognitive-Attentional Syndrome Moderates the Relationship Between Fear of Coronavirus and Symptoms of Coronavirus-Specific Health Anxiety.

This study was aimed at exploring the possible roles of the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS) and metacognitive beliefs in moderating the relationships between fear of coronavirus during the pandemic and health anxiety. Because some symptoms of health anxiety may overlap with symptoms of other anxiety disorders, we also tried to ascertain whether our hypothesized relations would be maintained when taking other anxiety disorder symptoms into account. We hypothesized that CAS strategies and meta-beliefs would play a role in the progression from fears of the coronavirus to coronavirus health anxiety. The method done was a cross-sectional study with n = 783 participants who completed questionnaires on fear of coronavirus, coronavirus-specific health anxiety, CAS, and symptoms of anxiety disorders. Fear of coronavirus and coronavirus health anxiety are correlated with medium effect size. CAS and metacognitive beliefs moderate the relationship between fear of coronavirus and symptoms of coronavirus-specific health anxiety. CAS predicts a unique part of health anxiety symptoms variance above symptoms of other anxiety disorders. The results of this cross-sectional study preclude causal inferences but tentatively suggest that CAS strategies may play a role in moderating the relationship between fear of coronavirus and coronavirus-related health anxiety. These relationships were obtained after controlling for variance shared with agoraphobia, social phobia, and general physical symptoms of anxiety.

Correlation between psychological status and social support in non-anti-epidemic clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional observational study

Objectives: To explore the psychological status and perceived social support in non-anti-epidemic clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the correlation between these two factors. Methods: Data of nonanti-epidemic clinical nurses from medical institutions in Nantong City of Jiangsu Province were collected using the Psychological Questionnaire for Emergent Events of Public Health (PQEEPH) and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) from February to March, 2020. Results: A total of 1,187 non-anti-epidemic clinical nurses were included into this study. The scores of the following dimensions in PQEEPH ranked from highest to lowest: depression (0.52±0.02) points, neurasthenia (0.37±0.01) points, fear (0.87±0.02) points, obsession-anxiety (0.24±0.01) points, and hypochondriasis (0.25±0.01) points. The total PSSS score was 63.46 points, of which, the scores of family support, friend support and other support were (21.89±4.27), (21.25±4.16) and (20.32±4.18) points respectively, indicating that these three factors had a negative correlation with emotional response. Conclusions: Non-anti-epidemic clinical nurses experience a negative psychological state during the COVID-19 pandemic and experience great support from family and friends.

Meta-analysis of cognitive behaviour therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of hypochondriasis: Implications for trial design.

BACKGROUND: Classification of hypochondriasis as an obsessive-compulsive and related disorder in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) has generated new heuristics for treatment of this common, chronic and disabling disorder. Standard treatment involves cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but no meta-analysis has so far considered hypochondriasis as a structured diagnosis or assessed the role of medication. A clearer understanding of the relative effectiveness of these interventions and identification of clinically relevant factors moderating the treatment response is needed for clinical guideline development. METHODS: The current systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for hypochondriasis was preregistered on PROSPERO (CRD42020185768) and follows PRISMA guidelines. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases until July 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions for patients diagnosed with hypochondriasis (or historical diagnostic equivalents). We assessed aspects of study quality using: the CONSORT Checklist for evaluation of RCTs, the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool, researcher allegiance and treatment fidelity. The primary outcome was improvement in hypochondriasis symptoms, comparing intervention and control groups at trial endpoint. Moderator variables were assessed using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS: Searches identified 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (N = 1405); 12 included CBT (N = 1212) and three included SSRI (N = 193) arms as the experimental intervention. Random effects meta-analysis yielded a moderate-to-large effect size for CBT versus all controls (g = -0.70 [95% CI -0.99 to -0.41], k = 18, I2 = 81.1%). Funnel plot asymmetry indicated possible publication bias and two potentially missing trials, reducing the effect size (g = -0.60 [95% CI -0.88 to -0.32]). Subgroup analysis showed that choice of control significantly moderated effect size, with those in CBT vs. wait-list (g = -1.32 [95% CI -1.75 to -0.90], k = 7, I2 = 0%) being double those of CBT vs. psychological or pharmacological placebo controls (g = -0.58 [95% CI -0.95 to -0.22], k = 7, I2 = 82%). Analysis of studies directly comparing CBT and SSRIs found a numerical, but not statistical advantage for SSRIs (g = 0.21 [95% CI -0.46 to 0.87], k = 2, I2 = 58.34%) and a modest effect size emerged for SSRIs vs. pill placebo (g = -0.29 [95% CI -0.57 to -0.01], k = 3, I2 = 0%). Most studies (11/13) were rated as high on potential researcher allegiance bias in favour of CBT. Meta-regressions revealed that effect sizes were larger in younger participants, and smaller in better quality and more recent RCTs and those with greater CBT fidelity. CONCLUSION: CBT and SSRIs are effective in the acute treatment of hypochondriasis, with some indication that intervention at a younger age produces better outcomes for CBT. In the case of CBT, effect sizes appear to have been significantly inflated by the use of wait list controls, and researcher allegiance bias. We recommend that a definitive, adequately controlled trial, designed with respect to the methodological issues raised in this meta-analysis, is needed to determine the magnitude effects for CBT and SSRIs with confidence and the long-term effect of treatments, to inform mental health service provision for this overlooked patient group.

Relationship between Preventive Health Behavior, Optimistic Bias, Hypochondria, and Mass Psychology in Relation to the Coronavirus Pandemic among Young Adults in Korea.

The great challenge to global public health caused by the coronavirus pandemic has lasted for two years in Korea. However, Korean young adults seem less compliant with preventive health behaviors than older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between risk perception variables of optimistic bias, hypochondriasis, and mass psychology, and preventive health behavior in relation to the coronavirus pandemic through a cross-sectional online survey. The participants are 91 Korean young adults aged 19-30. The results show that mass psychology has a positive relationship with preventive health behavior, whereas optimistic bias and hypochondriasis do not. In detail, people with high or middle levels of mass psychology displayed higher preventive health behavior compared with those who had low levels of mass psychology, and the highest compliance was for wearing a mask, followed by COVID-19 vaccination, whereas the lowest compliance was for influenza vaccination. These findings could be explained by the Korean culture of strong collectivism and the characteristics of COVID-19, which evoked extreme fear globally. The results of this study can be useful for policy establishment in the ongoing prevention of COVID-19 and suggest that mass psychology should be used effectively in planning preventive communication campaigns.

Do patients with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder experience more somatosensorial amplification, hypochondriasis, and fear of COVID-19?

Objective: Mental illnesses are important determinants in response to the pandemic. However, there are only a limited number of studies investigating the effects of COVID-19 in individuals with mental illnesses. We aimed to reveal the fear of COVID-19, somatosensorial amplification levels, anxiety, depression, and stress levels of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Method: We evaluated 500 participants in three groups. This study enrolled 137 patients with MDD, 140 patients with GAD, and 223 healthy controls. Participants were evaluated with the Whiteley Index-7, Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups’ SSAS, DASS-21, Whiteley Index, and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores. In the post hoc analysis, Whiteley Index and DASS-21 subscale scores were higher in patient groups than in the control group (p<0.001). Regression analysis revealed that Whiteley Index, COVID-19 Fear, and DASS-S had a significant effect on somatosensorial amplification. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that MDD and GAD patients are susceptible to normal bodily sensations. COVID-19 fear and hypochondriasis appear to be essential determinants of somatosensorial amplification. Accordingly, there is a need to develop effective psychological interventions focused on these factors in MDD and GAD.

Comparison Of Hypochondriasis in The Medical and Administrative Staff of Semnan University of Medical Sciences During Covid-19 Pandemic;A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Covid-19 disease has a variety of consequences for people involved in the treatment of patients. One of these complications is hypochondriasis. This study aimed to compare hypochondriasis in the medical and administrative staff of Kosar Hospital in Semnan during the pandemic in 2020. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 259 medical staff and 65 administrative staff working in Kosar Semnan Educational, Research and Treatment Center in 2020 were selected by simple random sampling and entered into the study. Data collection tools included a demographic information checklist and Evans Hypochondria standard questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of hypochondriasis in medical staff was significantly higher than administrative staff (60.2% vs. 51.5%, respectively, and P=0.007). Prevalence of hypochondriasis was higher in older, single and lower educated people (P< 0.001). Moreover, subjects with a history of infection with covid-19 (P< 0.001) or positive family history of infection with covid-19 (P< 0.001) had a higher rate of hypochondriasis;however, there was no significant association between gender and hypochondriasis (P=0.253). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is crucial to identify people at risk of hypochondriasis during the pandemic, with a critical focus on medical personnel to prevent the incidence of hypochondriasis in medical staff or provide treatment for those already afflicted with it.

Do patients with pathological health anxiety fear COVID-19? A time-course analysis of 12 single cases during the "first wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: Pre-existing health anxiety is associated with an intensified affective response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Still, results on the reaction of people with a diagnosis of pathological health anxiety (i.e., hypochondriasis) are scarce. METHODS: In the present study, we investigated the course of (health) anxiety related to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in comparison to (health) anxiety related to other severe diseases (e.g., cancer) in a sample of 12 patients with the diagnosis of pathological health anxiety during the "first wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Both SARS-CoV-2 related anxiety and anxiety related to other severe diseases were assessed weekly over 16 measurement points (30.03.-19.07.2020) and primarily analyzed with fixed effects regression analyses. RESULTS: Unexpectedly, SARS-CoV-2 related anxiety was on average significantly lower than anxiety related to other severe diseases (d = -0.54, p < .001) and not significantly associated with anxiety related to other severe diseases or pre-COVID-19 health anxiety. CONCLUSION: It therefore appears premature to assume that SARS-CoV-2 related anxiety and other health worries are necessarily strongly interrelated and comparably high in people with pathological health anxiety.

Resilience level and its relationship with hypochondriasis in nurses working in COVID-19 reference hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: A new coronavirus, called COVID-19, is an acute respiratory disease, which may arouse many psychological disorders since there is no specialized knowledge about it. The present study aimed to investigate the level of resilience and its relationship with hypochondriasis in nurses working in a COVID-19 reference hospital in south of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020, in which 312 nurses participated using the census method. Data collection tools were the Conker-Davidson standard resilience scale (CD-RISC) and the Evans Hypoglycaemia Awareness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression using SPSS software version 23. RESULTS: The mean scores of resilience and hypochondriasis were 72.38 ± 7.11 and 49.75 ± 8.13, respectively, indicating the moderate level of these two variables among nurses. Hypochondriasis in 18.91, 61.22, and 1.28% of the nurses was mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between resilience and hypochondriasis (r = - 0.214 and P < 0.001). In this regard, control (P < 0.001), positive acceptance of change (P < 0.001), spiritual effects (P = 0.001), trust in individual instincts (P = 0.001), and perception of competence (P = 0.002) were detected as the predictors of nurses' hypochondriasis. CONCLUSION: The nurses had moderate levels of resilience and hypochondriasis. Promoting knowledge about COVID-19and increasing information on how to protect oneself and others against the disease along with supportive packages from their managers are thus recommended.

The role of individual factors on corona-induced hypochondriasis and job stress: A case study in workplace.

Background: Given the importance of maintaining the mental health of workers, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of the individual factors on hypochondriasis and job stress under the corona epidemic condition in a company. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 275 workers in 2020 in one of the industries in southern Iran. To gather the data, demographic, researcher-made, standard hypochondria, and job stress questionnaires were sent electronically along with a guide and study objectives. The participants completed the questionnaires during 2 weeks and send them electronically to the research team. Finally, data were analyzed using tests of one-way ANOVA and linear regression in SPSS software version 22. Results: The results showed that the mean score of hypochondriasis in different groups of variables, including age, work experience, use of personal protective equipment, corona experience, and attention to preventive measures was significantly different (p<0.05). Based on the results, the mean score of job stress significantly differed in different groups of variables of personal protective equipment use, corona experience, and awareness on corona (p<0.05). Moreover, based on the regression relationships, hypochondriasis could be predicted by variables of personal protective equipment, corona experience, awareness on corona, and attention to preventive measures; and job stress could be predicted by variables of awareness on corona and attention to preventive measures. Conclusion: Regarding the importance of providing the physical and mental health of employees, the implementation of measures to reduce stress and hypochondriasis of employees, particularly in identified groups, is helpful.

Changes in the Type of Sports Activity Due to COVID-19: Hypochondriasis and the Intention of Continuous Participation in Sports.

This study focused on empirically analyzing sport activity participants' perceptions of hypochondriasis caused by fear of infection and changes in continuous participatory behavior patterns. To this end, a comparative analysis was conducted with a focus on the forms of participation and age of sport activity participants. For the final comparative analysis, a 2 × 3 factorial multivariate analysis of variance was conducted after confirming the validity and reliability of data based on 229 questionnaires collected from healthy respondents who have never been infected with COVID-19. The results showed statistically significant differences between worry about illness, which is a subscale of hypochondriasis, disease phobia, thanatophobia, and intent to continue according to age. Statistically significant differences were also found when considering the type of sport for worry about illness, which is a subscale of hypochondriasis, disease phobia, symptom preoccupation, and intent to continue. Furthermore, interaction effects between the two independent variables, i.e., age and type of sport, were found for disease phobia, a subscale of hypochondriasis, and thanatophobia. In summary, age and type of sport, which are important factors for the COVID-19 infection and symptoms, were found to affect the sport activity patterns. These results proved that COVID-19 may have caused the participants to have different perceptions depending on their characteristics and change their form of continuous participation. These findings will provide useful data for predicting the perception and behavioral patterns of sports participants if diseases like COVID-19 occur in the future. They also show how to live a healthy life through exercise.