Investigation of Anxiety Levels of Inpatients with a Diagnosis of COVID-19 and Depression, Hopelessness, Anxiety, and Perceived Social Support Levels of Their Parents

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the anxiety levels of children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and who are hospitalized and their parents’ levels of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and perceived social support. Methods: Childhood State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Perceived Social Support Scale were applied. The control group consisted of 56 children hospitalized in the general pediatric service with the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, and their accompanying parents. Results: Children hospitalized with the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 had significantly higher CSTAI scores and their parents’ BDI and STAI scores. In both groups, there was a positive significant relationship between the anxiety levels of the children and their parents’ depression, hopelessness, and anxiety levels. Conclusion: With the pandemic, mental afflictions were inevitable in children, but studies examining the psychological effects of children and their parents who have been diagnosed with the disease and are hospitalized are limited. The findings of the study show that children hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and their parents are more psychologically affected. This study can be a pioneer for more comprehensive studies and rehabilitation studies.