COVID-19 Phobia Among Diabetic Individuals Living in Provinces with High COVID-19 Case Rates in Turkey

OpenAlex İngilizce

Objective: This study aims to assess the level of COVID-19 phobia, its influencing factors, and its effects on metabolic parameters among diabetic individuals living in provinces with the highest COVID-19 case rates in Türkiye. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study included 496 diabetic individuals residing in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Kocaeli. Data were collected using the Individual Identification Form and the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S). The data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: It was determined that 60.5% of the participants experienced an increase in blood glucose levels, 72.6% had a decline in exercise habits, and 57.7% had an increased need for insulin. COVID-19 phobia levels were found to be higher among individuals with Type 1 diabetes, those with higher education levels, and those with higher income levels. Conclusion: COVID-19 phobia has negatively affected blood glucose levels, daily insulin requirements, and healthy lifestyle habits among individuals with diabetes living in large cities. To mitigate these effects, telehealth services and psychosocial support mechanisms should be developed to reduce anxiety levels and strengthen disease management.