Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

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Relationship Between Covid Anxiety and Covid Disbelief: Do Women Fare Better than Men?


Affiliations
1 Associate Professor in Psychology, K.J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
2 TYBA Psychology, K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3 SYBA Psychology, K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
     

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Knowing the relationship between Covid-anxiety and Covid-disbelief was felt significant in the context of people's (in particular youths') non-compliance to the Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions. The study involved 137 (females=107, males=30) college students who filled 'Corona virus anxiety scale' and 'Covid-19 disbelief scale' through Google form. The correlation found between Covid-anxiety and Covid-disbelief was moderate positive. However, it was significant in males but not in females. Next, corona virus anxiety can explain 17% of variance in Corona-disbelief in males. Thus, Covid-anxiety appears to create an unhealthy reaction of Covid-disbelief in men but not in women. Various studies supporting the above findings are discussed. Further Covid-disbelief in men in response to Covid-anxiety is explained in terms of 'Covid-disbelief' as a defense mechanism,'Covid-disbelief as reinforcer', 'men's tendency of using expressive suppression', and 'toxic masculinity'. The implications are discussed in detail.

Keywords

Covid-anxiety, Covid-disbelief, college students, gender.
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  • Relationship Between Covid Anxiety and Covid Disbelief: Do Women Fare Better than Men?

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Authors

Dr. Atish Taukari
Associate Professor in Psychology, K.J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Chaitali Thacker
TYBA Psychology, K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Mahek Adhia
SYBA Psychology, K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Abstract


Knowing the relationship between Covid-anxiety and Covid-disbelief was felt significant in the context of people's (in particular youths') non-compliance to the Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions. The study involved 137 (females=107, males=30) college students who filled 'Corona virus anxiety scale' and 'Covid-19 disbelief scale' through Google form. The correlation found between Covid-anxiety and Covid-disbelief was moderate positive. However, it was significant in males but not in females. Next, corona virus anxiety can explain 17% of variance in Corona-disbelief in males. Thus, Covid-anxiety appears to create an unhealthy reaction of Covid-disbelief in men but not in women. Various studies supporting the above findings are discussed. Further Covid-disbelief in men in response to Covid-anxiety is explained in terms of 'Covid-disbelief' as a defense mechanism,'Covid-disbelief as reinforcer', 'men's tendency of using expressive suppression', and 'toxic masculinity'. The implications are discussed in detail.

Keywords


Covid-anxiety, Covid-disbelief, college students, gender.

References