The effect of healthcare parent's fear of coronavirus on the parent-child relationship

This study was conducted to determine the effect of coronavirus fear of healthcare workers on the parent-child relationship. The descriptive study was conducted at a University Hospital in Central Anatolia between 1 January and February 28, 2022. Ethics committee permission, institutional permission, and informed consent were obtained from the participants. In the study, sampling was not used, and all of healthcare workers who had children aged 2-18 working in the relevant hospital and who agreed to participate in the study were tried to be reached. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Coronavirus Fear Scale, and the Parent-Child Relationship Scale based on the parents' self-report. 148 healtcare worker parents participated in the study. Obtained data were evaluated using numbers, percentage distributions, test and correlation analysis. 81% of the participants were women, 41% were between the ages of 30-39, 50% had two children, 69% had a bachelor's degree, 64% were nurses, 13% were midwives, 11% were physicians, 13% were pharmacists, dietitians. 59% of healthcare workers who participated in the study stated that their financial situation was moderate, 40% stated that they were separated from their children for a long time due to their job, and 52% of those who were separated stated that they were separated for more than a week. 58% of the participants stated that the support for the care of their children during the pandemic was insufficient. The total mean score of fear of corona virüs of healthcare workers is (20.39±6.91), positive parent child relationship subscale mean total score (43.44±5.10), negative parents child relationship subscale mean total score (14.31±3.58). No significant relationship was found between the total score of the coronavirus fear scale and the total score of the parent-child relationship (p>0.05). Age, number of children, financial situation and whether or not they can get adequate support in the care of children and the average age of the children affect the fear of coronavirus of the health care workers. Studies examining the behavioral dimensions of the korona virüs fear experienced by healtcare professionals between parents and their children can be increased. Keywords: Fear of coronavirus, healthcare worker, parent-child relationship.