Is age just a number: Exploring fear, anxiety, and coping in individuals during COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: The current pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) is a novel disease with no standardized course of treatment and cure. This novelty, origin, and dispersion of COVID-19 have been reported to cause chaos, anxiety, and fear among the general population. AIM: The present study aimed to explore the correlation between different age groups, in relation to their general coping strategies, fear, and anxiety due to COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: The research study employed a total sample of 135 participants. The sample was divided into four age groups: 12–18, 19–25, 26–55, and 56–85. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. General coping strategies employed by these participants were assessed using a brief COPE scale, the COVID-19 fear scale was used to assess fear, and coronavirus anxiety scale was used to screen anxiety. RESULTS: Our results indicated that age has a negative correlation with adaptive coping and positive correlation with problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and fear of COVID-19. The most used coping strategy among the age groups 12–18 and 19–25 age group was adaptive coping; for the 26–55 age group, it was problem-focused coping; and for the age group 56–85, emotion-focused coping was used the most. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current research could help to make the intervention procedure tailor-made for different age groups, thereby ensuring adherence and relatability to the precautionary directions.