Fear of COVID-19, stress and depression: A meta-analytic test of the mediating role of anxiety

Predictors of the Fear of COVID-19 in Individuals with Schizophrenia: a Prospective Study

Purpose: The fear of COVID-19 can result in psychological distress and mental health problems. Individuals with schizophrenia (IWSs) are especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. This study with a 1-year follow-up examined whether individual characteristics (sociodemographic characteristics, schizophrenia symptoms, depression, and self-esteem) or factors related to individual-environmental interaction (self-stigma, loneliness, and perceived social support) predicted the level of fear of COVID-19 (FC) among IWSs. Patients and methods: In total, 257 IWSs (out of an initial pool of 300 IWSs) were enrolled, and their baseline data were collected. FC was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale at 1 year after the onset of the study. The associations of baseline factors with FC 1 year later were analyzed using bivariable and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Bivariable linear regression results demonstrated that being a woman (p < 0.05), being unemployed (p < 0.05), having depression (p < 0.001), having low self-esteem (p < 0.05), experiencing loneliness (p < 0.01), and having feelings of self-stigma (p < 0.001) significantly predicted FC 1 year later. A multiple linear regression model further indicated that having feelings of self-stigma significantly predicted FC 1 year later (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Clinicians and policymakers should consider the predictors identified in this study when designing interventions to reduce FC among IWSs.

Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model

Introduction

Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ceased globally, individuals may still suffer from various psychological burdens in the post-COVID-19 era. The present observational cross-sectional study investigated how fear of COVID-19 can affect mental health through mediators including stress, perceived stigma, and preventive behaviors among young adults in Ghana.

Methods

A total of 635 participants aged between 18 and 29 years (mean age = 20.2 years [SD = 2.04]) were recruited to complete measures of COVID-19 fear, stress, perceived stigma, preventive behaviors, and mental health status from June to August 2022.

Results

Results from structural equation modeling found that (i) fear of COVID-19 was associated with stress and perceived stigma (standardized coefficients [βs] = 0.518 and 0.148, p-values < 0.001), (ii) stress and perceived stigma were associated with frequency of preventive behaviors (β = 0.173, p < 0.001 for stress; -0.100, p < 0.05 for perceived stigma), and (iii) preventive behaviors were associated with mental health status (β = 0.118, p < 0.01). Stress and preventive behavior (β = 0.009, 95%CI: 0.000, 0.003) and perceived stigma and preventive behavior (β = -0.007, 95%CI: -0.283, -0.020) were significant mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and mental health.

Discussion

The findings suggest that fear of COVID-19 may affect mental health through multiple pathways. Health professionals should provide comprehensive mental health interventions that address various influences regarding fear of COVID-19. Further research that examines the relationships between COVID-19-related variables and various health conditions is needed in the post-COVID-19 era to help develop different preventive and therapy measures.

Systematic review on attitudes towards death and dying in adults 50 years and older living in countries with community transmission of COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored older adults' vulnerability to severe illness or death. Increased public awareness of mortality, with daily reminders of preventive measures, spurred interest in understanding the impact on death-related thoughts. This systematic review analyses existing literature on death attitudes among individuals aged 50 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on associated factors.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using the WHO COVID database without any language limit, up until April 2023. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Included studies were systematically analysed and summarized using a predefined data extraction sheet.

RESULTS

Of the 2297 studies identified, 9 met inclusion criteria. The review showed moderate to high levels of death anxiety during the pandemic, linked to direct health risks from COVID-19 rather than mitigation measures. The impact of health and personal factors on older people's death anxiety was complex, with a range of health and personal factors such as chronic conditions, loss of capacity, loneliness, occupation, and resilience associated with it, suggesting potential intervention avenues.

CONCLUSION

The systematic review shows a significant link between COVID-19 and heightened death anxiety among individuals aged 50 and above. Negative attitudes to death can harm physical and mental health, diminish life satisfaction, increase avoidance behaviour, impair coping mechanism and undermine end-of-life decision making. Findings underscore the need for further research into risk and protective factors (personal, health, and environmental) and the importance of standardized data collection to guide interventions and public health strategies aimed at mitigating death anxiety.

Longitudinal Associations Between Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence, Early Adulthood, and Old Age: Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analyses

Background: Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, affecting individuals of all ages. The co-occurrence of these disorders often exacerbates their negative health impacts, underscoring the necessity of understanding their comorbid mechanisms. Methods: This study employed cross-lagged panel networks (CLPNs) to explore the longitudinal associations between depression and anxiety symptoms across three age groups and to compare the respective symptom networks. CLPNs were constructed through cross-temporal associations between different symptoms, reflecting both the pattern of interaction and the significance of specific symptoms in comorbidity. The sample consisted of 1258 adolescents (aged 13-19 years, M = 15.98), 1118 college students (aged 17-24 years, M = 19.94), and 548 older adults (aged 60-101 years, M = 85.19) from China. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the subscales of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale Short Version (DASS-21) at two time points over a 6-month period during 2020-2021. Results: The findings revealed that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in adolescents, college students, and older adults was 25.9%/46.6%, 53.7%/61.5%, and 7.2%/22.5%, respectively. The network structure varied across age groups: adolescents and college students exhibiting a tight interconnection between depression and anxiety symptoms, while older adults showed stronger small-world network characteristics. A key finding across all age groups was the central role of irrational fear. In addition, somatic anxiety symptoms frequently emerged as outcomes of other psychological symptoms. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety are more pronounced in college students compared to adolescents and older adults. Comparisons of the overall network structure provide insights into the lifelong trajectories of depression and anxiety symptom networks. The centrality of irrational fears and somatization symptoms is emphasized. These results offer guidance for more targeted clinical interventions.

Personality Traits and Depression in Infertile Couples during the COVID-19

Background/Objectives: The study presented in this paper seeks to examine how personality traits and depressive symptoms, influenced by the fear of COVID-19, interact in infertile couples, who are on the verge of commencing treatments with assisted reproductive technology (ART). The purpose of this observational study was to explore the relationship between personality traits in infertile couples and the occurrence of depressive symptoms, taking into account the mediating effect of COVID-19 fear. Methods: The study sample consisted of 108 women and 71 men (N = 179), all of whom had received an infertility diagnosis and expressed a desire to begin ART treatment at a Sicilian ART center; they were subsequently recruited. The Personality Inventory (PI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Fear of COVID (FCV-19S) were used for data collection. Results: The FCV-19S demonstrates a significant positive correlation with both neuroticism (r = 0.25, p = 0.001) and agreeableness (r = 0.19, p = 0.012). In addition, there is a significant correlation between FCV-19S (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and depression symptoms. The mediation analysis reveals that neuroticism is a predictor of fear of COVID-19 (β = 1.77, p = 0.001) and depression (β = 0.22, p = 0.002). Additionally, the fear of COVID-19 significantly influences (β = 0.12, p < 0.001) depression. Conclusions: This study found that neuroticism and agreeableness are positively linked to the fear of COVID-19, and women displayed notable mild mood disorders. Neuroticism predicted both depression and fear of COVID-19, while fear of COVID-19 predicted depressive symptoms. However, the total efficacy of the mediation model was not significant, thereby suggesting that the variables do not fully explain this model.

Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 outbreak has profoundly affected the psychological well-being of university students globally. Previous studies have found a positive longitudinal link between fear of COVID-19 (FoC-19) and internet addiction. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding COVID-19-specific predictors and underlying mechanisms of internet gaming addiction (IGA).

METHODS

Integrating the compensatory internet use theory and social role theory as frameworks, a three-wave longitudinal approach was used in this study to test the hypothesized model. Data spanning a duration of one year were gathered from undergraduate students in China. From 2021 to 2022, we conducted online self-report surveys in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain participants' levels of FoC-19, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and IGA.

RESULTS

FoC-19 showed a longitudinal positive relationship with IGA. The longitudinal link between FoC-19 and IGA was mediated by loneliness and depression. Gender moderated the direct effect of FoC-19 on IGA, with this effect being significant only among male students and not among their female counterparts.

CONCLUSION

These findings advance our comprehension of the mechanisms and gender differences underlying the link between FoC-19 and IGA, and provide a novel perspective for interventions to reduce IGA.

Evaluation of the effects of pandemic-related fears on anxiety and depression: the mediating roles of traumatic stress and loneliness

BACKGROUND

The detrimental mental health effects which emerged from COVID-19 have profoundly affected healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of traumatic stress and loneliness on the fears of contracting and dying from COVID-19, and anxiety and depression of HCWs during the pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was completed by HCWs in a province of Turkey. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Impact of Events Scale-Revised and numerical rating scales (for fears of COVID-19 and loneliness) were used and a bootstrap approach was used in the analyses with SPSS PROCESS macro software.

RESULTS

Of the HCWs evaluated, 150 (34.4%) were doctors, with a mean duration of work experience of 10.6 ± 7.5 years. The results indicated that fear of contracting COVID-19 was directly related to anxiety (β = 0.244, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.135, p < 0.01) and that traumatic stress and loneliness mediated the relationships between the fear of contracting COVID-19 and anxiety (β = 0.435, p < 0.001; β = 0.235, p < 0.001, respectively) and depression (β = 0.365, p < 0.001; β = 0.294, p < 0.001, respectively). The fear of dying from COVID-19 was determined to be directly associated with anxiety (β = 0.190, p < 0.001) but not with depression (β = 0.066, p = 0.116), and traumatic stress and loneliness mediated the relationships between the fear of dying from COVID-19 and anxiety (β = 0.476, p < 0.001; β = 0.259, p < 0.001, respectively) and depression (β = 0.400, p < 0.001; β = 0.311, p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The study results demonstrated the important roles of traumatic stress and loneliness in exacerbating the negative consequences of fears of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression, and provide insights for identifying HCWs at greater risk.

Association depressive symptoms with memory function and social capital before and during COVID-19 in community-dwelling older adults in rural Japan: A retrospective study with a longitudinal data

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan.

METHODS

A retrospective study with longitudinal data was conducted during COVID-19 from May 2021 to November 2021 (T2) in Kurogawa, Japan. The candidate population for this study was 145 with the following requirements: (1) older individuals aged 65 years or above who were registered in the Kurogawa study, and (2) those with previous data (from November 2016 to February 2020; T1 as pre-pandemic). Memory function was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II-DR). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Japanese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Social capital was evaluated through civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Fear of the COVID-19 infection (FCV-19S) was evaluated.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 96 participants (mean age = 81.0 years, SD = 4.8) Multivariate analysis for GDS-15 score by Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) revealed significant associations between LM II-DR (β = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.21-0.05, p = 0.002) and FCV-19S during COVID-19 (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.15, p = 0.02) with GDS-15 score. However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with GDS-15 score.

CONCLUSIONS

Among older adults in rural Japan, memory function and fear of the COVID-19 infection were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis. However, social capital was not associated with depressive symptoms. This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID-19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social isolation consequences: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic in a context of dynamic lock-down in Chile

BACKGROUND

Chile did not adopt general and unified lockdowns for the whole nation but organized itself with dynamic and sometimes irregular lockdowns. These dynamics and consequences of social isolation could be generalized to other contexts of isolation such as those affecting minorities such as immigrants, prisoners, refugees.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the physical and mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes due to lockdown among university students in Chile. We examined psychopathological variations in relation to mental health problems in a healthy young population. Our goal was to develop interventions to address these new psychosocial problems in potentially comparable post-pandemic contexts. From May 10th 2021 to June 2th 2021, 420 University students took part in an anonymous survey asking for information on habits and symptoms that emerged during the lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three health outcomes were assessed: digestive disorders; headache; fear of COVID-19. Covariates including conditions and lifestyle during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in the family, financial situation and productivity were considered in the analysis.

RESULTS

Participants experienced headache and fear of COVID-19 quite frequently during the lockdown period. More than half of the sample also experienced social isolation. Female gender, sleep quality, memory difficulties, and a change in eating habits resulted associated with an increased risk of health outcomes such as headaches and digestive disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study fit within an original pandemic context: The results of this study can help identify needs and promote solutions applicable to different contexts. Future interventions should focus on the promotion and implementation of healthy habits focused on sleep hygiene, psychoeducation on the use of mobile devices and gender medicine with the support of healthcare organizations and University.

A 4-year prospective investigation of predictive effects of prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and family support on fear of COVID-19 among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals

Aim

This prospective study examined whether prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and family support can predict fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals.

Methods

Data of 1,000 LGB individual on prepandemic sociodemographic characteristics, sexual stigma (familial sexual stigma [FSS] measured by the Homosexuality-Related Stigma Scale, internalized sexual stigma [ISS] measured by the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, and sexual orientation microaggression [SOM] measured by the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory), affective symptoms (i.e., depression measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale and anxiety measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State version), and family support measured by the Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve Index were collected. Four years later, the fear of COVID-19 was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the associations of prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and perceived family support on fear of COVID-19 4 years later were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

In total, 670 (67.3%) participants agreed and completed the follow-up assessment. Greater prepandemic FSS, ISS, SOM, affective symptoms, and perceived family support were significantly associated with a greater fear of COVID-19 at follow-up.

Conclusion

The identified predictors should be considered when designing interventions aimed at preventing and reducing the fear of COVID-19 in LGB individuals.

A Preference-Based Value Assessment of the Fear of COVID-19 Contagion

Purpose

To assess the preference-based value of the fear of COVID-19 contagion.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a web-based, cross-sectional discrete choice experiment among 544 US adults. We used a Bayesian efficient design to generate choice sets. Each choice set comprised two hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine options characterized by seven attributes: chance of COVID-19 infection, chance of having severe symptoms from COVID-19 infection, vaccine protection duration, chance of mild to moderate adverse events from vaccination, chance of serious adverse events from vaccination, chance of future exposure to COVID-19 after vaccination, and out-of-pocket cost. We used mixed logit (ML) and latent class (LC) models to analyze data. Furthermore, we calculated the willingness-to-pay for eliminating the chance of future exposure to COVID-19, shedding light on the value attributed to the fear of contagion.

Results

The ML model demonstrated all attributes, including the chance of future exposure to COVID-19, were statistically significant. The participants were willing to pay approximately $13,046 to eliminate the chance of future exposure to COVID-19 or their fear of contagion when COVID-19 was still pandemic. The LC model unveiled two participant classes with distinct preference weights for the chance of future exposure to COVID-19 and out-of-pocket cost attributes. Nevertheless, the chance of future exposure to COVID-19 exposure held a significant degree of importance in both classes.

Conclusion

The chance of future exposure to COVID-19 exposure or fear of contagion was a significant element in the value assessment of COVID-19 vaccines. Further studies should be conducted to verify the value of fear of contagion and include it in the value assessment of healthcare technologies for infectious diseases.

Mediating Role of Viral Anxiety and Insomnia in Relationship Between Work-Related Stress and Depression Among Cold Chain Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Here we investigated whether cold chain workers' insomnia, work-related stress, and viral anxiety contributed to their depression. Furthermore, we investigated the role of viral anxiety in mediating the association between work-related stress and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

All 200 invited cold chain workers voluntarily responded to an online survey. All were working at a market in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, and responsible for testing nucleic acids in imported cold chain foods and disinfecting outer packaging at government request. We collected their demographic variables and rated their symptoms using the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 Items (SAVE-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS).

RESULTS

Cold chain workers' depression was significantly correlated with higher SAVE-6 (r = 0.450, P < 0.01), ISI (r = 0.603, P < 0.01), MBI-GS (r = 0.481, P < 0.01), and PSS (r = 0.390, P < 0.01) scores. SAVE-6 score was significantly correlated with ISI (r = 0.462, P < 0.01), MBI-GS (r = 0.305, P < 0.01), and PSS (r = 0.268, P < 0.01) scores. Linear regression revealed that their depression was predicted by SAVE-6 (β = 0.183, P = 0.003), ISI (β = 0.409, P < 0.001), and MBI-GS (β = 0.236, P = 0.002, adjusted R² = 0.440, F = 40.04, P < 0.001) scores. Mediation analysis showed that their burnout directly influenced their depression, while viral anxiety or insomnia severity mediated the influence of burnout on depression.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that burnout was a direct cause of depression and that viral anxiety and insomnia severity mediated the relationship between burnout and depression.

Evaluating the influence of static management on individuals' oral health

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of static management on individuals' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) according to the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China.

METHODS

The digital questionnaire conducted with three sub-questionnaires was sent to 700 patients who accepted treatment at the Department of Stomatology, 363 Hospital. Data on demographic characteristics, the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and willingness to invest in oral health were collected from the 658 completed questionnaires. According to the state of individuals' lives, participants were divided into two groups: a static management group (Group 1) and a nonstatic management group (Group 2). The scores of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and willingness to invest in oral health were compared between these two groups using IBM SPSS Statistics.

RESULTS

The results showed that individuals undergoing static management reported better OHRQoL. Meanwhile, they also presented lower willingness to invest money and dental visits in oral health. Furthermore, according to the results of the logistic regression analysis, aging acts as a negative correlation factor for the OHRQoL of people undergoing static management, while the willingness to invest money and dental visits in oral health is defined as a positive predictor for OHRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Static management effects the OHRQoL of individuals. Aging and WTIOH in money and dental visits are related the individuals' OHRQoL during static management.

A network analysis of the long-term quality of life and mental distress of COVID-19 survivors 1 year after hospital discharge

Objectives

COVID-19 survivors suffer from persistent mental distress and impaired quality of life (QOL) after recovery from the infection. However, the symptom-symptom interaction between these psychological variables remained unexplored. The present study aimed to determine the symptom network of mental distress (depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and their association with QOL among 535 COVID-19 survivors 1 year after hospital discharge.

Methods

9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Chalder fatigue scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were applied to measure depression, anxiety, fatigue, PTSD, sleep disturbances, and QOL, respectively. Two networks were estimated using Gaussian graphical model. Network 1 consisted of mental symptoms to determine the central and bridge symptoms. Network 2 additionally included QOL to determine which mental symptoms were mostly related to QOL.

Results

60% of the COVID-19 survivors experienced mental distress 1 year after hospital discharge. Uncontrollable and excessive worry, psychomotor symptoms, intrusion, and daytime dysfunction were the most central symptoms. Daytime dysfunction and fatigue (especially mental fatigue and loss of energy) served as the bridge symptoms across the mental distress network and exhibited the most substantial association with QOL.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated several key symptoms that played a vital role in mental distress and QOL among COVID-19 survivors. Prompt screening and targeted interventions for these symptoms might hold great promise in preventing mental distress and improving QOL in COVID-19 survivors.

Hope Buffers the Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Depression among College Students: Insomnia as a Mediator

BACKGROUND

In the period of the global pandemic, psychophysical problems induced by the fear of COVID-19 among college students deserve attention since the dormitory environment in college greatly increases the possibility of COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

A hypothesized mediated moderation model was to be verified using a cross-sectional study among 2453 college students. Fear of COVID-19, insomnia, hope, and depression were assessed by using the relevant scales.

RESULTS

(1) The fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated to depression (β = 0.365, t = 5.553, 95% CI = [0.236, 0.494]); (2) hope moderated the influence of the fear of COVID-19 on depression (β = -0.093, t = -4.066, 95% CI = [-0.137, -0.048]), as well as on insomnia (β = -0.095, t = -4.841, 95% CI = [-0.133, -0.056]); and (3) the mediated moderation model with hope as the moderator and insomnia as the full mediating variable between fear of COVID-19 and depression was verified (β = -0.060, 95% CI = [-0.093, -0.028]).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that hope is a vital mechanism to explain the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and depression in early adulthood. In practical application, mental health practitioners should focus on boosting hope and alleviating insomnia when addressing COVID-19-related depression issues among college students.

FEAR AND STIGMATIZATION IN THE GENERAL POPULATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

OBJECTIVE

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the feeling of fear and stigmatization in the general population, during the pandemic. .

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 1076 people attending a vaccination center in the Region of Argos, a prefecture of Peloponnese Region. The study was conducted from May 2021 to August 2021. In this study we used the Fear Investigation Scale(FCV-19S) and the COVID-19 Stigma scale.

RESULTS

Results: A total of 1076 participants took part in the study. Vaccinated participants for Sars Cov-2 had higher levels of fear (U=117,569.00, p<0.001) and individuals with unspecified employment status had a higher level of fear compared to civil servants, pensioners, unemployed, private employees and freelancers (H = 17.225, p=0.004). Higher levels of fear were also seen by those who reported that they were uncertain that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely to be treated soon compared to those who believed it would be treated soon and those who did not believed this (H = 31.299, p<0.001). Vaccinated citizens showed a higher stigmatization rate of health professionals. Professional uncertainty and unemployment shows that they are a factor for increased fear. Strong social and family ties also indicate the reduced presence of stigmatization.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: An important imprint of the pandemic was the stigmatization of population's groups, such as health professionals, foreigners, as well as the infected by COVID-19. It is evident in society, that it was the fear of contracting the disease that contributed to stigmatization and isolation.

Fear of COVID-19, stress and depression: A meta-analytic test of the mediating role of anxiety

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the lives of millions of individuals physiologically, behaviorally, socially, and/or psychologically. Moreover, there is now much empirical evidence that mental health problems have increased during the pandemic period and these problems have various consequences. The changes in the mood states of individuals due to the pandemic underpins the rationale of the present study. The aim of the study was to identify the cross-sectional associations between fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, and depression by using two stage-meta-analytic structural equation modeling (TS-MASEM).

DESIGN

This is a meta-analytic structural equation modelling study.

METHOD

A systematic literature review initially identified 4840 studies. As a result of applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 studies comprising 28 samples (reporting 120 effect sizes) were eligible for inclusion in the current TS-MASEM (N = 16,452).

RESULTS

The results showed significant associations between fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the mediation role of anxiety in the association between depression and fear of COVID-19 and stress was explored.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the results did not allow for causal inferences regarding depression, they provide insight into the possible consequences of fear of COVID-19 and comorbid problems for clinicians and researchers.

Associations between trait and state perceived stress and daily moods: COVID-19 stressful experiences as a moderator

Drastically disrupting daily routines, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has posed critical mental health threats to adolescents and young adults worldwide. Many of the extant empirical findings, however, have focused on individuals' psychological adjustment during the initial phase of the pandemic. It is less clear how COVID-19 stressful experiences impact young people's daily lives in the post-pandemic "new normal." Drawing on 7-day diary reports, the present study fills this gap by examining: (1) how daily perceived stress impacted daily emotional adjustment; and (2) the moderating effects of COVID-19 stressful experiences on these associations among 582 Chinese young adults (M age = 18.12, SD = .65; 69% females). Results indicated that higher levels of both trait (i.e., average levels) and state (i.e., daily fluctuations) perceived stress were associated with greater negative and anxious moods, and that prior pandemic-related experiences exacerbated the adverse impact of both trait and state perceived stress on daily moods. Specifically, young adults reporting greater COVID-19 stressful experiences demonstrated poorer emotional adjustment (i.e., lower levels of positive mood and higher levels of negative mood) on days when they had more fluctuations in perceived stress; the aggravating impact was stronger when the average levels of perceived stress were higher. By illuminating the moderating effects of COVID-19 stressful experiences, this study contributes to the limited, but burgeoning, research examining the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on daily emotional adjustment in post-pandemic life.

The Effect of Risk and Protective Factors on Primary School Students' COVID-19 Anxiety: Back to School After the Pandemic

This study aimed to analyze the risk and protective factors affecting the COVID-19 anxiety of primary school students after the reopening. It was investigated how primary school students' parents' vaccination, and COVID-19 cases seen at school, knowledge and awareness directly or indirectly explained their individual and social COVID-19 anxiety. The data were obtained from 227 primary school students living in different regions of Turkey. Pandemic Awareness Scale, Pandemic Anxiety Scale, Pandemic Information Test and Information Form were used to obtain the data. The data were analyzed by path analysis. According to the results, the case seen at school, knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 directly and significantly predicted primary school students' individual and social COVID-19 anxiety. Vaccination of parents, on the other hand, directly significantly predicted social COVID-19 anxiety of primary school students, but did not significantly predict individual COVID-19 anxiety. In addition, in this effect, awareness of COVID-19 mediates the knowledge of COVID-19, and cases seen at school mediate the vaccination of parents. The obtained model showed a good fit. According to the results, primary school students' knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 and parents' vaccination reduced their anxieties, and COVID-19 cases seen at school increased their anxiety.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Perception on Job Stress of Construction Workers

Construction has been regarded as one of the most stressful industries, and the COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated this situation. This research developed and tested a model of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic perception on job stress of construction workers. Both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were considered as mediators. Empirical data were collected using a detailed questionnaire from the Chinese construction industry. The results showed that pandemic perception was significantly related to psychological and physical stress. Emotion-focused coping was mainly triggered by pandemic fear and job insecurity, while problem-focused coping was mainly triggered by organizational pandemic response. Furthermore, the effects of pandemic fear and organizational pandemic response on job stress were mediated by problem-focused coping. Finally, the theoretical and practical significance, research limitations, and future research directions of this study are discussed.