Illness-Related Attitudes toward COVID-19 and Precautionary Practices among Kuwaiti Males during the Total Lockdown and Curfew in Kuwait: Illness-Related Attitudes toward COVID-19 and Precautionary Practices among Kuwaiti Males during the Total Lockdown and Curfew in Kuwait

Abstract

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic that affects individuals’ physical and mental health. The aim of this descriptive cross sectional study was to investigate relationships between precautionary practices (washing hands, taking vitamins, and eating a healthy diet) and attitudes about illness related to COVID-19 (worry about illness, concern about pain, hypochondriacal beliefs, thanatophobia, and treatment experience). This study used non-probability sample method to recruit the participants. The study sample was restricted to males who were 18 and older and who lived in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 430 males volunteered to participate in this study. The participants completed an online questionnaire that included three sections with questions about demographics, types of precautionary behavior related to COVID-19, and attitudes toward COVID-19. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between following preventative health behaviors related to COVID-19 and men’s illness-related attitudes toward COVID-19. Individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about health significantly affect their mental health condition. Therefore, there is a need to increase individuals’ attitudes, and beliefs that precautionary behavior is important for avoiding COVID-19, which could reflect on their physiological and mental health condition.

Key words: Illness, Attitudes, COVID-19, Precautionary Practice, Males, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus.