Investigation of Coronaphobia, Anxiety, Stress, and Mental Well-Being Levels According to Employees’ Participation in Recreational Activities During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract This study aims to determine the difference between coronaphobia, anxiety, stress, and mental well-being levels among public institution employees according to their participation in recreational activities during the pandemic and to compare them in terms of variables. The field research method was used in the study, which had 376 (215 males, 161 females) voluntary participants. During the data collection process, a questionnaire was used to determine persistent anxiety, coronavirus-19 phobia, stress, mental well-being levels, and demographic characteristics. The form inquired about age, gender, whether participants attended recreational events during the pandemic, and, if so, what types of activities they participated in. Significant differences were found among the participants’ scores for continuous anxiety, mental well-being, coronavirus-19 phobia, and the psychological, somatic, and social sub-dimensions. It was found that those who participated in recreational activities had higher mental well-being scores and lower anxiety and phobia scores than those who did not. Significant differences were found in some of the scales used according to gender and age variables. Since recreational activities reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, it is recommended that individuals participate in activities that comfort them and make them happy under pandemic conditions.