The relationship between COVID-19 fear, avoid behaviours and levels of cognitive flexibility in the pandemic process

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused tremendous fear around the world, and individuals need flexibility more than ever before. When the relevant literature is examined, it is seen that people continue their avoidance behaviors after having Covid-19. Although there are studies showing the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and avoidance behaviors, the role of cognitive flexibility in this relationship has not been sufficiently investigated. The main purpose of the current thesis is to test the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and attitudes to avoid Covid-19. The sample of the study consists of 331 participants between the ages of 18-65, residing in Turkey, who have experienced Covid-19 without hospitalization or have not had Covid-19. Sociodemographic Information Form, Covid-19 Fear Scale, Covid-19 Avoidance Attitudes Scale, Cognitive Control and Flexibility Scale in Stressful Situations, and Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale-Turkish Self-Report Form were used as data collection tools for the participants. Has been applied. As a result of the analyzes, the fact that participants with chronic illness and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms according to the YBOKO-Self-Report Form experienced more fear of Covid-19 and exhibited behaviors of avoiding Covid-19 is compatible with the literature. The results also showed that cognitive control has a partial mediating role in the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and cognitive avoidance behaviors. The findings suggested that the application of interventions that prioritize cognitive flexibility and cognitive control when working in clinical settings with individuals with fear of Covid-19 may be important in terms of treatment.