Relationship Between Anxiety and Self-care Behaviors in Iranian Medical Students During COVID-19 Epidemic

The prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological and health disorders in individuals, such as some health care behaviors disturbance and anxiety disorder.

This study aimed to assess Iranian medical students’ anxiety level and self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The anonymous online questionnaire was applied to collect data, including three general sections on the socio-demographical characteristics, COVID-19 self-care behaviors, and coronavirus anxiety scale. Totally, 620 students of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with access to the Internet were surveyed from May 23 to July 7, 2020.

The mean scores of self-care behaviors and anxiety levels were 56.71 ± 7.63 and 16.84 ± 3.75, respectively. The self-care behaviors were higher among female, married, and PhD candidates and infected students living in rural areas than other students (P < 0.05). The level of anxiety was significantly higher among male, single, and infected students living in metropolitan areas (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative relationship between self-care behaviors and anxiety levels (r = -0.922, P < 0.001).

The finding showed suitable self-care behaviors and high anxiety levels in students. The universities should prepare a package of multi-dimensional interventions, such as designing comprehensive software to reduce anxiety and increase preventive behaviors, such as self-care behaviors in students.