The prevalence and risk factors of death anxiety and fear of COVID‐19 in an Iranian community: A cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: COVID‐19 has adversely impacted the public's mental health. One of the causes of psychopathology during the present pandemic is death anxiety and fear of COVID‐19. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of death anxiety and fear of COVID‐19 in Shiraz city, south of Iran. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 982 participants in Shiraz from October to November 2021. Data were collected using Templer's Death Anxiety Scale and the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale. Trained interviewers collected data throughout different city districts. A data‐driven approach (latent class analysis) was applied to categorize the participants and determine the risk factors. RESULTS: Among the participants, 507 (51.6%) were female, and 475 (48.4%) were male. The participants’ mean age was 38.26 ± 15.16 years. Based on the analysis, 259 (26.4%), 512 (52.1%), and 211 (21.5%) participants had low, moderate, and severe levels of death anxiety. Also, 393 (40.06%) and 588 (59.94%) of the participants had low and high levels of fear, respectively. Higher death anxiety was significantly associated with being female, having an associate degree, being retired, share of medical expenditure from total expenditure of more than 10%, having a history of hospital admission due to COVID‐19, history of COVID‐19 in relatives, and having fear of COVID‐19. Also, being female, expenses equal to income, history of hospital admission due to COVID‐19, death in relatives, and higher death anxiety were linked to higher levels of fear of COVID‐19. CONCLUSIONS: Death anxiety and fear of COVID‐19 are closely associated with each other and affected by various sociodemographic and economic factors. Given this pandemic's unpredictable nature and chronicity, interventions at the community level to support high‐risk groups are crucial.