Children's level of anxiety in relation to their level of awareness and attitude towards corona virus based on the health belief model and the level of stress, anxiety and depression of mothers

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationshipbetween children'sanxiety level and children'sawareness of coronavirus based on the healthbelief model and their mothers'anxiety, stress   and depression during social distancing period. This correlational study was done on۲۶۰students of preschool and elementary schools of educational areas in Tehran in ۲۰۲۰ and theirmothers that were selected as available sampling. Data were collected by a self-designed questionnaire of children'sawareness and attitude to coronavirus, Spence Children'sAnxiety Scale (SCAS), and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-۴۲) in adults. The results indicated significant relationship of children'sanxiety with anxiety (r = ۰.۴۵), stress (r = ۰.۳۵) and depression (r = ۰.۴۴) of their mothers and level of their awareness ofCorona (r = ۰.۱۹) and age (r = ۰.۱۴).Also, the results of multiple regression analysis in step-by-step manner showed that anxiety, depression and stress of mothers and children'sawareness of Coronavirus were significant predictors of children'sanxiety (altogether ۳۴%). According to the results of this research, one of the necessary measures toprotect and improve the mental health of children in critical conditions consequent Coronavirus is parents'training to regulate their negative emotions. It is also important to provide information about coronavirus to children with considering their age and cognitive development.

Keywords:

corona virus , Awareness , health belief model , anxiety , stress and depression , ویروس کرونا , آگاهی از کرونا , الگوی باور سلامت , اضطراب , استرس و افسردگی