Mental wellbeing and perception of health in the era of COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study in the general population

Gül, İsa; Yeşiltaş, Aysun

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at evaluating mental wellbeing and health perception in the general population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and at highlighting the correlation between them and selected variables. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross‐sectional study was carried out in 374 individuals, who were remotely administered two scales (“Perception of Health Scale [PHS]” and “Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale [WEMWBS]”) and a demographic and clinical questionnaire. FINDINGS: PHS mean score was 53.24 ± 7.69 and the total WEMWBS score was 52.95 ± 10.75. A positive statistically significant correlation was found between PHS and WEMWBS (p < 0.05). Gender, marital status, and education levels conditioned mental well‐being in a statistically significant. Suffering from a chronic disorder, COVID‐19 symptoms, or having a family member affected by COVID‐19 infection influenced the health perception. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Exposing the factors affecting the health and mental wellbeing perceptions of individuals, especially during the pandemic period, can guide policymakers.