The effect of anxiety and fear of catching COVID-19 on quality of life in physical education teachers

With the Covid-19 Pandemic, home quarantines started and schools continued with distance education. This virus, which causes fear and anxiety to humanity, has also affected the education community. The aim of this study; The aim of this study is to examine the effect of physical education and sports teachers' anxiety and fear of catching covid-19 on quality of life. While 341 physical education teachers working in the province of Elazig constituted the population of the research, 159 physical education teachers constituted the sample. To physical education teachers; The Personal Information Form consisting of 13 items in which demographic characteristics were questioned, the Athletes' Anxiety of Conceiving New Type Coronavirus Scale with 16 items, the Covid-19 Fear Scale consisting of 7 items, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form consisting of 27 items were applied. The data obtained were evaluated in the statistical package program, 2 Independent Samples were used in dependent groups, Kruskal Wallis H was used in independent groups, and Sperman correlation test was used for correlation analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the study, physical education teachers were found to have above-average fear of catching Covid-19, moderate fear of Covid-19, and high quality of life. A significant difference was found that in the anxiety scores of catching Covid-19 according to gender, compliance with social isolation conditions, seeing oneself in a risky situation during the pandemic process, and chronic disease variables; was found that in the fear of Covid-19 scores according to gender, professional experience, compliance with social isolation conditions, seeing oneself at risk during the pandemic process, and relatives with Covid-19 infection; was found that in the quality of life scores according to the variables of professional experience, compliance with the mask distance hygiene rule, seeing oneself at risk during the pandemic process, and having Covid-19 infection. No significant difference was found in terms of age, marital status, education level, place of residence and smoking. As a result, it can be said that the quality of life decreases as the anxiety and fear of catching Covid-19 increase in physical education teachers. It can be said that the fear and anxiety of Covid-19, which is less felt in those who are new to the profession and in those who do not mind going out under social isolation conditions, increase in individuals who see themselves in the risk group and have a chronic disease. It can be said that compliance with the mask distance hygiene rule and not getting sick are effective in increasing the quality of life.