Identifying the Levels of COVID-19 Fear, Perceived Stress, and Psychological Resilience of the University Students Enrolled at the Health Programs

Abstract

Purpose: All people especially students are affected psychosocially due to reasons such as distance education, uncertainty, loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was performed to identify the levels of COVID-19 fear, perceived stress, and psychological resilience of the university students studying at health programs. 
 Methods: A total of 518 students participated in this cross-sectional study. The research data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Brief Resilience Scale. 
 Results: The participant students had medium-level COVID-19 fear, perceived stress, and psychological resilience. It was found that the gender, having a family member who had COVID-19, and not having a family member who died of COVID-19 affected the participant students’ levels of COVID-19 fear, perceived stress, and psychological resilience. 
 Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the health professional candidates’ fear, stress, and psychological resilience. The initiatives can be planned to reduce the negative effects of the pandemic and enhancing coping skills of university students studying in health programs.