Influence of Online Work Viral Anxiety Mediates the Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Personal Injunctive Norms on Adherence to Physical Distancing among Bank Support Provider

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This study investigates the role of viral anxiety as a mediator between personal injunctive norms, intolerance of uncertainty, and adherence to physical distancing among bank support staff in Pakistan. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how psychological factors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, influence employee behaviour in high-stress environments, particularly in the rapidly digitizing banking sector. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 150 bank support employees through a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that viral anxiety significantly mediates the relationship between personal injunctive norms and physical distancing, indicating that anxiety about virus exposure is a key driver of compliance with safety protocols. However, the direct effects of personal injunctive norms and intolerance of uncertainty on physical distancing were not significant when viral anxiety was accounted for, suggesting that anxiety overshadows other psychological factors in influencing behaviour. These results highlight the need for organizations to address viral anxiety through targeted interventions to ensure employee well-being and adherence to health guidelines in the workplace. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of health-related behaviours in organizational settings and offers practical implications for managing employee anxiety in the context of public health crises.