The effect of Covid-19 disease perception on youth's depressive symptoms

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economic and social lives of people all over the world. A number of scientific studies have been carried out to treat the psychological effects of the epidemic. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of young people's perception of illness on their depressive symptoms. The sample of the study consists of 150 undergraduate and graduate students and graduates between the ages of 19-30 who live in different provinces of Turkey, who have not had the Covid-19 disease, but who observe those around them who have this disease. As data collection tools in the research, the Demographic Information Form, which includes the information and demographic information of the people about the Covid-19 disease, the Scale for Evaluation of Perceptions and Attitudes towards the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak, the Covid-19 Psychological Distress Scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). The questionnaires and scales to be used in order to obtain the research data were delivered to the participants via the Google Forms Platform, where forms were sent over the internet. It was concluded that there was a positive relationship between depression and cognitive avoidance in the Assessment of Perceptions and Attitudes towards the Covid-19 Epidemic Scale, a positive relationship between fear and anxiety in the Covid-19 Psychological Distress Scale, and a positive relationship between aggression, somatization, anxiety and negative self, which are the BSI sub-dimensions. As a result; depressive symptoms were observed in women and in the youngest age group participants. In line with this result, it is thought that in extraordinary situations that negatively affect the lives of young people, it is necessary to focus on efforts to protect their mental health.