The main purpose of this research is to examine the effect of COVID-19, which affects the world, on human psychology within the scope of various variables. Survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was applied in the research. Data in the study were obtained by using the 'COVID-19 Psychological Distress Scale'. The average scores that can be obtained from the five-point Likert-type scale range from 1 to 5. The psychological distress scale, which includes 12 questions in total, consists of two sub-dimensions, fear-anxiety and doubt. The data were obtained from the participants through the Google form. A total of 775 people, 316 females and 459 males, participated in the study. The research data were analyzed by using the SPSS program, and the Alpha value of the scale was found to be .80. The correlations between such variables as 'gender, age, residence, educational status, marital status, occupation, income level, chronic disease, COVID-19 status' and the dimensions of psychological distress, fear-anxiety and doubt were examined in the study. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the participants experienced an average level of psychological distress and doubt, and a high level of fear-anxiety about COVID-19. In addition, in the study, a statistically significant difference was found in the dimensions of psychological distress, fear-anxiety, and doubt in terms of gender variable, and it was determined that females were more afraid of COVID-19. No statistically significant difference was observed in all other variables of the study. As a result, it was determined that the psychological effect of COVID-19 was not high, but it caused quite a lot of fear-anxiety and that females experienced more psychological distress than males.

COVID-19, psychological distress, fear-anxiety, doubt