Parents’ Level of COVID-19 Fear,Anxiety and Their Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Vaccination of Their Children

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate parents’ COVID-19 fear and anxiety levels and determine the relationship between parents’ COVID-19 fear and anxiety levels and their attitudes and behaviors toward having themselves and their children vaccinated. This descriptive and cross-sectional type of research was conducted with 950 parents with 12–18 years old children. Having a chronic disease, being vaccinated, intention to vaccinate their children, and the children’s age and school year were found to increase parents’ COVID-19 fear and anxiety (p < 0.005). A statistically significant correlation was found between the parents’ perceived levels of COVID-19 fear and anxiety and their intentions to vaccinate their children (p < 0.005). According to the study’s findings, the age of the child, the parents’ vaccination, and the parents’ intentions to vaccinate their children were predictors of COVID-19 fear and anxiety.