The Mental Burden of COVID-19 in Pulmonary Patients: An Investigation of Fear, Anxiety, and Quality of Life

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted various aspects of life, particularly mental health and quality of life. Purpose: This study aims to assess the levels of anxiety and fear experienced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, examine how these factors vary according to sociodemographic and individual characteristics, and explore their impact on the quality of life of individuals attending private pulmonology clinics. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 112 patients who visited a private pulmonology clinic in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via a questionnaire that included six sections, covering demographics, stigma, fear, quality of life, coping strategies, and mental health. Statistical analysis was performed via SPSS 25. Results: The survey revealed high rates of COVID-19-related stigma, especially for foreigners (50.9%) and health workers (29.5%), with half of the participants believing that people were ill due to irresponsible behaviour. Fear of COVID-19 appears to be significantly high (m = 15.7), with gender (women) being among the determinants of the highest levels of fear. Anxiety occurs at normal levels (m = 5.6), although higher levels of fear have been shown to lead to higher levels of anxiety. Finally, both fear (p = 0.000) and anxiety (p = 0.003) are negatively correlated with most dimensions of quality of life. Conclusions: The present research highlights the stigma created by COVID-19, especially for specific groups of people. In addition, increased levels of fear and anxiety affect the quality of life of individuals.