Perception of Coronavirus in Children Through the Interpretation of Metaphors

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the perception of coronavirus in children between the ages of 7-18 through the interpretation of metaphors. This qualitative study was conducted with a total of 34 children between the ages of 7-18 years The metaphors obtained from the content analysis were categorized into two main themes and sub-themes. The main themes were categorized as barrier at COVID-19 and fear at coronavirus as fear. The most striking metaphors in the study, such as death, deadly, disease, scary, germ, snake venom, black hole, darkness, gun, lead, were the metaphors in the “Deadly” category, which were revealed by children. In unexpected situations, it is beneficial for parents and health care professionals to establish clear, open, and reassuring communication with their children. © The Author(s) 2022.