Risk Perception, Risk Vulnerability and COVID-19 Anxiety Predict Physical and Mental Health among Medical Students in Ibadan, Nigeria

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological factors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it examined the influence of risk perception, risk vulnerability, and COVID-19 anxiety on the physical and mental components of HRQoL after controlling for demographic covariates such as gender and age. A total of 340 medical students completed an online questionnaire using well-established scales. The results showed that risk perception and COVID-19 anxiety were negatively correlated with physical and mental health, while risk vulnerability was positively correlated with both components. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression, the study found that risk perception and vulnerability improved physical health, while COVID-19 anxiety reduced it. Additionally, risk perception and COVID-19 anxiety negatively impacted mental health, whereas risk vulnerability enhanced it. These findings suggest that different psychological factors influence HRQoL components and that reducing COVID-19-related anxiety could improve both physical and mental health among medical students.