Abstract
Introduction
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted various aspects of life, particularly mental health and quality of life.
Purpose
This study aims to assess the levels of anxiety and fear experienced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, examine how these factors vary according to sociodemographic and individual characteristics, and explore their impact on the quality of life of individuals attending private pulmonology clinics.
Methodology
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 112 patients who visited a private pulmonology clinic in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via a questionnaire that included six sections, covering demographics, stigma, fear, quality of life, coping strategies, and mental health. Statistical analysis was performed via SPSS 25.
Results
The survey revealed high rates of COVID-19-related stigma, especially for foreigners (50.9%) and health workers (29.5%), with half of the participants believing that people were ill due to irresponsible behaviour. Fear of COVID-19 appears to be significantly high (m = 15.7), with gender (women) being among the determinants of the highest levels of fear. Anxiety occurs at normal levels (m = 5.6), although higher levels of fear have been shown to lead to higher levels of anxiety. Finally, both fear (p = 0.000) and anxiety (p = 0.003) are negatively correlated with most dimensions of quality of life.
Conclusions
The present research highlights the stigma created by COVID-19, especially for specific groups of people. In addition, increased levels of fear and anxiety affect the quality of life of individuals.