Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between preoccupation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and adherence to physical distancing among frontline nursing professionals working in COVID-19 inpatient wards. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether the commitment to physical distancing mediates the influence of intolerance of uncertainty on viral anxiety. Frontline healthcare professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatient wards at three tertiary-level affiliated hospitals in Korea were surveyed between April 7 and 26, 2022. The survey included scales-such as the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale, Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 and a questionnaire on adherence to physical distancing. A total of 256 responses were analyzed after excluding inappropriate or incomplete responses. Pearson's correlation analysis found that age was significantly associated with the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (r = -0.12, P < 0.05) and adherence to physical distancing (r = 0.27, P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis ascertained that age (β = -0.07, P = 0.002), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (β = 0.35, P < 0.001), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (β = 0.24, P < 0.001) were predictors of obsession with COVID-19 (Adjusted R² = 0.60, F = 78.1, P < 0.001). The indirect pathway by mediation analysis showed that reassurance-seeking and viral anxiety mediated the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the preoccupation with COVID-19. During the pandemic, there may be a strong association between reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, and a heightened preoccupation with COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers. Thus, from the early stages of infectious disease, a psychological support team for medical staff responding to the disease should be established, and periodic evaluations should be conducted to identify high-risk groups.
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