Analyzing Emotional State and Performance of the Public in the Face of the Corona Pandemic

Paying attention to emotions of individuals and their functional status in the acute situation of COVID-19 pandemic is of utmost importance. Useful measures can be undertaken to reduce the consequences of this novel disease. Specifically, the all-round cooperation of the public is necessary in order to lower incidence of morbidities. The aim of the present study is to examine the emotional and functional status of the public in confronting COVID-19.

The present study was a correlational study and the study population was selected from families living in Mashhad in summer of 2021. A researcher-made questionnaire was used and items were dimensioned using factor analysis technique.

Levels of anxiety and worry in most participants were high; i.e., between 15 and 60% were worried, anxious and confused. On the other hand, those who have strong negative feelings about the corona outbreak, also follow health protocols to deal with it. In addition, the hypotheses presented in the study were confirmed using the univariate chi-square technique.

The results showed that the mean scores of emotions were lower than the mean scores of performances, i.e., emotions scored lower than performance. In general, the sample showed strong negative feelings towards the spread of this epidemic in the society, while the performance of people with such feelings is also strong. However, the role of people whose feelings have not changed much or not at all should not be overlooked, as it can quickly spread in society and become a threat.