The relationship between Covid-19 related anxiety and health anxiety: The mediating role of physical concern component

 Current models show the anxiety sensitivity physical concerns as a fundamental variable related to the psychological consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between COVID-19 related anxiety and health anxiety mediated by the physical concern component during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted online. For this purpose, 554 adults in Tehran were assessed anonymously by convenience sampling methods using an online questionnaire from 21 June to 5 July 2020. The instruments of this study included the Corona Anxiety Index (CAI), Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3). The collected data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation method and structural equations by SPSS software version 25 and LISREL software version 8.80.

The age range of participants was between 18 and 65 years, with a mean and standard deviation of 38.03±12.21. The results of the Pearson correlation showed that the components of physical concern and health anxiety have a positive and significant relationship with COVID-19 related anxiety (P<0.05). The results of structural equations showed that there is a significant direct path from health anxiety to COVID-19 related anxiety. Also, a significant indirect pathway from health anxiety to COVID-19 related anxiety mediates the physical concern component with a coefficient of 0.16%.

 In the Iranian sample, the physical concern component mediates the relationship between health anxiety and COVID-19 related anxiety. These findings can help in effective prevention and explain the psychological effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.