Fear of COVID-19 and Preventive Health Behavior: Mediating Role of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptomology and Psychological Distress.

Int J Ment Health Addict

Research Department, Universidad Cesar Vallejo/Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Perú.

Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been implicated in several mental health challenges faced by many people. These challenges can also arise due to the fear of being infected with COVID-19 and engaging in preventative behavior. This study investigated the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptomology and psychological distress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and preventive health behavior. A sample of 1172 individuals (mean age = 22.9 years, 54.5% females) participated in the online survey. Correlation analysis revealed that preventive health behavior has a positive relationship with fear of COVID-19 and post-traumatic stress symptomology but a negative relationship with psychological distress. Further analysis indicated that post-traumatic stress symptomology and psychological distress mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and preventive health behavior. Post-traumatic stress symptomology caused by the fear of COVID-19 could contribute to improving preventive health behavior while psychological distress caused by the fear of COVID-19 tends to hinder preventive health behavior. It is recommended that public and private agencies should assist in promoting COVID-19 targeted education. Attention should also be focused on people's mental health status as means of preventing COVID-19.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8183581PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00557-4DOI Listing

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