Relationship between fear of COVID-19 and individual factors – a preliminary study

C Cabaços,A.T Pereira,R Sousa,A Macedo,A Araujo

doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.694

C Cabaços, A.T Pereira + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.694

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Abstract

IntroductionFear associated to infectious diseases is directly related with their transmission rate, morbidity and mortality. High levels of fear associated with COVID-19 can affect people’s ability to act and think rationally. In a time of pandemics, it is essential to understand individual factors that might be associated to higher vulnerability to stress and fear.ObjectivesTo analyse: a)correlations between Fear of Covid-19 and clinical and sociodemographic characteristics; b)the mediator role of repetitive negative thinking on the relationship between personality traits and Fear of Covid-19.Methods 234 adults (75.6% women; mean age=29.53±12.51) completed an on-line survey with the Portuguese version of the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and other questionnaires to evaluate clinical and sociodemographic characteristics (years of education, perceived physical and mental health and infection by Covid-19), Personality (NEO-FFI-20) and Repetitive negative thinking (PTQ-15). SPSS and Process Macro (Hays, 2020) were used.ResultsFCV-19 mean scores were significantly higher in women and significantly correlated with years of education (r=-.14) (p<.05). History of previous/current Covid-19 infection did not significantly distinguish FCV-19 scores and they did not correlate with perceived health. FCV-19 correlated significantly with neuroticism and PTQ total and dimensional scores (r>.20, p<.01). Both Repetitive thinking and Cognitive interference were mediators of the relationship between neuroticism and fear of COVID, even after controlling for gender and education.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence on individual factors that might be associated to the emotional response to the Covid-19 pandemics, aiming to facilitate public health initiatives to ease people’s fears in a near future.

Highlights

Fear associated to infectious diseases is directly related with their transmission rate, morbidity and mortality
In a time of pandemics, it is essential to understand individual factors that might be associated to higher vulnerability to stress and fear
History of previous/current Covid-19 infection did not significantly distinguish FCV-19 scores and they did not correlate with perceived health

Summary

European Psychiatry

S259 relatively low doses of antipsychotics was possible with a mean length of stay of 7,25 Æ 2,86 days. In two of the cases the delirious content was predominantly marked by the coronavirus itself. Conclusions: It has been suggested that the intense psychosocial stress associated with a new life-threatening disease and national lockdown restrictions could be triggers for new-onset psychotic disorders. Some authors have reported cases similar to ours, which means that we could be experiencing and increase in the incidence of psychotic disorders due to the exceptional circumstances we are living around the world. Relationship between fear of COVID-19 and individual factors – a preliminary study. Macedo1,2 1Psychiatry Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; 2Institute Of Psychological Medicine, Faculty Of Medicine, University of Coimbra, coimbra, Portugal and 3Usf Coimbra Centro, USF Coimbra Centro, Coimbra, Portugal

Introduction

Findings