Related Fear Research Articles

Mental health patterns during COVID-19 in emergency medical services (EMS)

PurposeThis study aims to explore patterns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel's mental health, regarding their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, COVID-19 anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and well-being; and to explore variables that contribute to these patterns, among sociodemographic/professional and COVID-19 experience variables.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 214 EMS personnel, who answered the Patient-Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Well-Being Questionnaire and COVID-19 related questions.FindingsEMS personnel showed an adequate psychological adjustment during COVID-19. Two clusters/patterns were found: the poorly (34%) and the well (66%) psychologically-adjusted. Personnel's age, COVID-19 fear and workplace security measures' adequacy contributed to which pattern they were more likely to belong to.Research limitations/implicationsDespite being cross-sectional and not controlling for pre-COVID-19 data, this study adds to the COVID-19 literature. Findings call for the need to explore: other COVID-19 fears; how personnel perceive workplace security measures; COVID-19 valid instruments; pre-COVID-19 data; and mental health patterns with different rescuers.Practical implicationsFindings explored EMS personnel's patterns of mental health during the COVID-19, as well as its covariates. Results allow to better prepare emergency management, which can develop prevention strategies focused on older professionals, COVID-19 related fears and how personnel assess security measures.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the scarce literature focused on COVID-19 mental health patterns instead of focussing on isolated mental health variables, as well as what contributes to these patterns. Moreover, it is one of the few studies that focused on EMS personnel rather than hospital staff.

Guarding against COVID-19 vaccine hesitance in Ghana: analytic view of personal health engagement and vaccine related attitude

ABSTRACT Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure against COVID-19 spread. While the WHO and other stakeholders fear vaccine nationalism, vaccine-hesitancy has become a topical issue among experts. Based on the evidence of vaccine hesitancy among Blacks, we explore the interrelatedness of psycho-social factors (personal health engagement, fear of COVID-19, perceived susceptibility, and vaccine-related attitude) likely to thwart vaccine acceptance in Africa. We sampled 1768 Ghanaian adults over 2 weeks from December 14, 2020, the first day a successful COVID-19 vaccine was administered in the US using an online survey. A higher level of personal health engagement was found to promote vaccine-related attitudes while reducing COVID-19 related fears, susceptibility, and vaccine hesitancy. Fear of COVID-19 and perceived vulnerability are significant contributors to the willingness to accept vaccination. This is an indication that health engagement alone will not promote vaccination willingness, but the fear and higher level of perceived susceptibility out of personal evaluation are essential factors in vaccination willingness. We recommend promoting health educational messages on COVID-19 vaccination ahead of any vaccination rollout in Africa, and such messages should contain some element of fear appeal.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the well-being of mental healthcare providers working in a specialist clinic for personality disorder

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the well-being of mental healthcare providers working in a specialist clinic for personality disorder during the first wave of COVID-19 social restrictions. Method Clinical (n = 31) and nonclinical (n = 11) staff in a public outpatient specialist personality disorder clinic were invited to participate. Data were collected via an online survey which incorporated the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) together with a range of open-ended questions exploring mental health, physical health, sleep quality, management of relationships, alcohol consumption, eating patterns, and use of media. Inductive content analysis was used to review the responses to the open-ended questions. Data from CAS was reported descriptively. Results In total, 39 surveys were completed (92.8% response rate). According to the CAS, two participants (5.1%) experienced coronaphobia during the initial pandemic restrictions. Participants reported a diversity of experiences affecting their health status during this time. While loss of social interactions with family and friends was reported as the most challenging aspect of lockdown, participants reported that conducting their work using telehealth and the absence of the work commute provided opportunities for more time with family and for self-reflection. Conclusions The self-reported physical and mental health of participants demonstrated resilience. This suggests that the capacity to conduct therapeutic work via telehealth, and having the option of working from home helped to mitigate many of the adverse aspects of social restrictions due to the global pandemic. This study was conducted during the first wave of social restrictions; subsequent studies will reveal longer-term effects of this policy. Key Points What is already known about this topic: Australian adults reported a slight increase in psychological distress in the general community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a validated and reliable mental health questionnaire assessing COVID-19 related fear and anxiety (coronaphobia). CAS measures sleep disturbance, appetite loss, dizziness, tonic immobility, and abdominal distress. Living under lockdown conditions is an unnatural experience. Experience of mental health workers who provide care for people with personality disorder is not yet studied during this condition. What this paper adds: Only two participants (5.1%) experienced coronaphobia during the initial pandemic restrictions. While challenges were endorsed, the self-reported physical and mental health of participants demonstrated resilience. A range of well-being challenges were reported in this study that informs health policy makers for future interventions.

"We Don't Fear HIV. We Just Fear Walking around Pregnant.": A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescent Sexuality and Pregnancy Stigma in Informal Settlements in Kisumu, Kenya.

In Kenya, adolescent pregnancy rates are high, contraception utilization is low, and adolescent sexuality is stigmatized. We describe how perceptions of sexuality and pregnancy stigma influence decision-making among adolescents in the informal settlements of Kisumu. We used purposive sampling to recruit 120 adolescent boys and girls aged 15-19 for focus group discussions. A semistructured interview guide was used to elicit social norms and community attitudes about sexual and reproductive health. We analyzed the data using the Framework Approach. The social stigma of adolescent sexuality and the related fear of pregnancy as an unambiguous marker of sexual activity emerged as main themes. This stigma led adolescents to fear social retribution but did not lead to more frequent contraception use due to additional stigma. The intensity of this fear was most acutely expressed by girls, leading some to seek unsafe, sometimes fatal, abortions, and to contemplate suicide. Fear of pregnancy outweighed fear of contracting HIV that was viewed as both treatable and less stigmatized. Our findings illustrate how fear of pregnancy among these adolescents is driven primarily by fears that their community will discover that they are sexually active. Interventions are urgently needed to address adolescent sexual stigma and to prevent negative outcomes.

Intolerance of Uncertainty and Tendency to Worry as Mediators Between Trust in Institutions and Social Support and Fear of Coronavirus and Consequences of the Pandemic

The aim of this article is to formulate and test a model integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) findings regarding the importance of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and tendency to worry with findings regarding the importance of trust in institutions, other people, and social support. We assumed that trust in institutions, other people, and social support reduce fear of the coronavirus and of the consequences of the pandemic in a direct way, but also indirectly by enhancing one’s sense of control and diminishing the tendency to worry which, further, attenuates fear of the coronavirus and fear of the consequences of the pandemic. An online survey was conducted among the Serbian general population (N = 1409, 78.1% female, M = 38.82, SD = 9.24) at the end of April 2020, which included questionnaires on fear of SARS-CoV-2, fear of consequences of the pandemic, social support, trust in other people and trust in political and health institutions. The model has been validated by data from our study suggesting that it represents one possible pattern of interrelationships between social and intrapsychic variables in the pandemic situation. Results also showed that the COVID-19 related fears are related more strongly to intrapsychic variables – IU and tendency to worry – than to variables operationalizing social context relevant for coping with pandemic at the social and individual level.

Exploring pain characteristics in nulliparous women; A precursor to developing support for women in the latent phase of labour

BackgroundAdmission to hospital in the latent phase of labour is associated with a cascade of unnecessary intervention. Women who seek early hospital admission may have heightened fear and anxiety in relation to pain routed in their pre-pregnancy experiences. ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of pain catastrophising in a healthy non-pregnant population and explore previous pain experiences and fear of childbirth as characteristics that might predict pain catastrophising. DesignProspective observational study across two higher education institutions in Scotland and England using a semi-structured survey administered through Bristol Online Surveys. Four validated questionnaires were used to identify the prevalence of pain catastrophising and fear of childbirth in nulliparous women of reproductive age. ResultsThe survey was completed by 122 women undertaking an undergraduate degree and aged between 18 and 23 years. A high prevalence of pain catastrophising was found: a cut-off score of 20 and above = 47.5% (58/122 participants), a cut-off score of 30 and above = 21.3% (26/122). Fear of pain (β = 0.14, t = 4.21, p <0 .001) and pain-related anxiety (β = 0.40, t = 11.39, p <0 .001) were significant predictors of pain catastrophisation. However, there was no correlation between fear of childbirth and pain catastrophisation. Conclusions and implications for practiceIt is reasonable to hypothesise that the pain catastrophising scale may be a good tool to predict those women likely to require additional support in the latent phase of labour; however further work is needed to explore this with a group of pregnant women.

Fearing Animals

Abstract This article explores nonpathological fear in relation to nonhuman animal encounters in the wild. Critiquing a contemporary, philosophical romance with animal life, Craig turns to Cora Diamond to consider alternative styles of thinking and writing about animals and experiences that defy ready-made paradigms. Diamond diagnoses the tendency for philosophers to deflect from reality. The author follows Diamond in seeking methods to forestall or delay deflection in favor of an open-ended examination of the ways that fear, imagination, and childhood memories inform the sense of oneself as an animal in relation to other animals.

Hobbes' Biological Rhetoric and the Covenant

ABSTRACT For Victoria Kahn, Hobbes' argument that fear of violent death is “the passion to be reckoned upon” in explaining what inclines men to peace must be interpreted as a mimetic argument. However, Kahn then notes a paradox that makes Hobbes' thinking problematic: whereas love and the desires are appetites that produce an imitative effect, fear is different. Though also a passion, fear lacks that capacity to produce a mimetic effect or, therefore, to generate a contract. My hypothesis is that resolving the dilemma presented in Kahn's interpretation of Hobbes requires a shift in attention from mimesis to rhetoric and, more specifically, to biological rhetoric as defined by Nancy Struever. This approach to Hobbes makes it possible to understand the rhetorical role of fear in generating and maintaining the social contract, and how the problem that Kahn signals—the impotence of fear in relation to mimesis—can be resolved.

Stress symptoms and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a comparative study between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and typically developing children and adolescents.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related confinement severely impacted people wellbeing. Many studies focused on general population, although it is reasonable to expect that patients with neurodevelopmental disorders might have been at higher risk. Children/adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) might be potentially more vulnerable, due to their intolerance to forced restrictions that limit stimulating experiences, to obligation to follow instructions and to acceptation of imposed rules We aimed to compare stress-related behavioral changes of the first COVD-19 related confinement among 6-18 years old ADHD and typically developing subjects. Two parent-proxy online surveys have been employed, shared via social media. Symptoms of acute stress related to the pandemic and a question about family members/households' COVID-19 positivity have been listed in 8 yes/no items. Chi-squared tests were applied. Final sample consisted of 1078 typically developing subjects and 979 ADHD. Exaggerated startle response, difficulties in waking-up, angry mood as well as COVID-19 related fears were more prevalent among ADHD vs. typically developing subjects. typically developing subjects showed higher prevalence of research for information about COVID-19 and worries about death. In conclusion, the COVID-19 experience significantly impacted children and adolescents with ADHD to a great extent, similarly to typically developing subjects. ADHD showed more anxious-phobic responses, while typically developing subjects demonstrate more depressive attitudes. Differences in stress symptoms profiles between ADHD and T typically developing subjects warrant to develop distinct strategies of therapeutic interviews.

COVID-19 and Risk Factors of Anxiety and Depression in South Korea.

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to explore the prevalence of and identify predictors of anxiety and depression related to coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea. MethodsThe analysis is based on a quota survey design and a sampling frame that permitted recruitment of a national sample of 1,014 individuals between March 17–31, 2020. Several standardized measurements were used, including GAD-7, PHQ-9, COVID-19 related fear, restrictions in deaily life, as well as sociodemographic information and physical and psychosocial needs during the pandemic. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to analyze the influence of sociodemographic factors, fear, and physical/psychosocial needs on anxiety and depression. ResultsSignificant numbers of the respondents were identifiable anxiety (19.0%) and depression group (17.5%), respectively. This indicates that the depression and anxiety prevalence rate after the COVID-19 is substantially high compared to the depression rate of 2.6% in 2020 and 2.8% in 2018 both reported in the Korea Community Health Survey and the anxiety rate of 5.7% reported in 2016 Survey of Mental Disorders in Korea. Multiple logistic regression results showed age, COVID-19 related fear, and the level of restrictions in daily as significant factors in understanding and predicting the anxiety group. Likfewise, the COVID-19 related fear, restrictions in daily life, and need for economic support were important predictors in predicting the depression group. ConclusionFindings on predictors for greater vulnerability to anxiety and depression has important implications for public mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correlation between Perceived Fear of COVID-19 Infection and Demand for COVID-19 Vaccination in Thailand: A Cross Sectional Study

As the global COVID-19 pandemic became increasingly severe, the perceived fear of infection amongst the general population increased significantly. Many aspects of COVID-19 infection such as the ailment’s severe symptoms and risk of death contributed greatly to the collective fear surrounding this disease. The fear of infection resulted in lifestyle changes for many which in turn caused a great extent of socioeconomic impacts on both the regional and global level. Correlating closely to the fear of infection, vaccine related fear became a growing trend amongst the public. The majority of those fearing the vaccines were skeptical of its safety and risk of severe although rare side effects such as blood clots or convulsion not to mention the more common side effects such as high fevers that deterred a significant portion of the population from getting vaccinated. With these two closely related fears causing great effects on our society, our study decided to study the correlation and interaction between these two metrics. Through measuring both COVID-19 infection and vaccination fear of 351 subjects from diverse demographics, our study found many correlations between the perceived fear for COVID 19 infection, demand and reluctance for COVID 19 vaccination and other factors such as the age of the subject. Our study also took various measurements regarding the subjects involved in this study such as the subject’s age and underlying diseases that are known to augment the severity of COVID-19 symptoms such as Diabetes, underlying heart disease and lung diseases. After rigorous data analysis, the study found proportionate correlations between the levels of perceived fear of COVID-19 infection and the demand for vaccination. The demographics of participants (age and underlying diseases) were also found to have a correlative effect on the former measurements. Keywords: COVID-19 fear, vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19 risk factors.

At the intersection of gender and discrimination: Experiences of Congolese refugee women with social and cultural integration in the United States

Refugee resettlement services in the United States usually prioritize education, employment, and language skills. However, a more holistic approach to supporting refugees beyond the initial resettlement period is needed. Specifically, more attention should be focused on the social and cultural discrimination, particularly racism experienced by refugees who are Black. This is even more urgent for women who experience additional intersectionality of race, gender, and refugee status. We conducted longitudinal photovoice research with Congolese women refugees in the United States in 2016 after they had been resettled for approximately two years and then again three years later in 2019. Photovoice data was supplemented with semi-structured interviews in 2016 and interviewer-administered questionnaires in 2019. The paper shares three major themes highlighting social and cultural challenges—including raising kids in America and the related fear of the police; increasing experiences of discrimination; and the importance of social connection. Our findings indicate the need for more comprehensive and culturally tailored support from social services beyond the initial resettlement period.

Australian market response to COVID-19 as moderated by social media

Purpose Emerging as a black swan event that stifled the global economy, COVID-19 is the first social media (SM) pandemic. In an unsocial age due to social distancing, SM relevance is intuitively magnified during a pandemic. This study aims to investigate the direct and moderating impact of Twitter on the Australian stock market during the COVID-19 info-pandemic. Design/methodology/approach As a natural experiment, a time-series regression measures the effect of the COVID-19 virus, proxied by the active cases and the marginal impact of SM user attention and sentiment on the Australian stock market. Findings Results show that SM user attention and sentiment to COVID-19 related fear topics are significant in explaining market returns and in predicting their volatility. It demonstrates that SM plays a role between COVID-19 and Australian stock market performance by amplifying the pandemic impact. Originality The study goes beyond a purely empirical investigation of the catalyst (i.e. the pandemic), thus contributing to current theoretical debates on the impact of SM on investor behaviour. Practical implications Policymakers and market participants could benefit from the empirical findings of this research in the case of analogous epidemics.

COVID-19 related psychological distress and fears among mothers and pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.

ObjectivesThis study objectives were to investigate maternal psychological distress, mothers’ fear of their children contracting COVID-19, mothers’ perceptions of the information available regarding children and COVID-19, changes in children’s behavior during lockdown, and concerns of pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed women aged 18 years and older who either had children under 10 years of age or were pregnant at the time of the survey. The outcomes included psychological distress, mothers’ fear of their children contracting COVID-19, change in children’s behaviors during COVID-19 lockdown and pregnant women’s concerns. Multivariable ordinary least squares regression models were employed to examine the adjusted associations between sociodemographic factors and psychological distress, as well as fear of COVID-19.ResultsOf 628 women, 11.8% (n = 74) were pregnant at the time of survey. Most of the pregnant women (89.2%, n = 66) had some degree of concerns about their unborn babies getting infected during delivery in the hospital. Among mothers of children under 10 years of age (n = 564), half (n = 282) reported change in their children’s behavior during the lockdown. Most mothers and pregnant women (94.9%, n = 569) had some degree of psychological distress. Mothers and pregnant women with a college degree had significantly lower psychological distress (β = -1.346; p = 0.014) than women with a high school education or less. Similarly, mothers and pregnant women with monthly family income ≥ US$ 1,333 had lower psychological distress than those with < US$ 1,333. Women with pre-existing chronic physical (β = 2.424; p < 0.001) or mental (β = 4.733; p < 0.001) conditions had higher psychological distress than those without these conditions. Having children in the house was a contributory factor for higher psychological distress. For example, mothers with one child (β = 2.602; p = 0.007) had significantly higher psychological distress compared to expectant mothers without children in the house.ConclusionsMost mothers and expectant mothers in our study had moderate to high levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Saudi Arabia. Education, family income and chronic mental and physical conditions were associated with high psychological distress in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Fear and the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders and Severe Asthma, and Other High-Risk Groups

ABSTRACT Objective: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the long term is unclear. We evaluated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)–related transmission fear and mental-health disorders in populations at high risk for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Healthcare workers and patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs), severe asthma, malignancy, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were included in the study. The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation (FIVE) scales were applied during face-to-face interviews. Results: There was a total of 560 participants, 80 per group; 306 (55%) were female. The FIVE and HADS-A scale scores of health care workers were significantly higher than the other groups (p = 0.001 and 0.006). The second-highest scores were in patients with PID. There was no significant difference between the groups in HADS-D scores (p = 0.07). There was a significant positive correlation between FIVE scale scores and anxiety (r = 0.828; p &lt; 0.001) and depression (r = 0.660; p &lt; 0.001). The FIVE scale had significant discriminatory power for anxiety (AUC = 0.870, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.836–0.904; p &lt; 0.0001) and depression (area under the curve = 0.760, 95% CI = 0.717–0.803; p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental-health disorders may develop in patients with comorbidities, especially healthcare workers. They should be referred to mental-health centers. Keywords: Asthma, COVID-19, fear of virus transmission, mental health, primary immunodeficiency

Kill or be killed: living in fear

This article explores fear and aggression in relation to trauma. These themes are explored using the case study of a man who needs conflict, particularly around race and gender, in order to bypass feelings of fear. Faced with actually experiencing trauma, he finds himself running and keeps on running in order to not commit murder, first in reality and then later in his mind. Exploring the mechanisms involved when, after a difficult early life, he escapes from home as a young teenager and then finds himself unable to settle or maintain relationships. Instead, we see how moving from continent to continent, finding himself in violent conflict again and again, he is unable to resolve the conflict within himself. Using Freud's concepts of repetition compulsion, denial, and disavowal to think about this patient, I examine what is driving this internal destructiveness and the need to keep fear consistently at arm's length.

Effectiveness of a Video-Based Intervention on Reducing Perceptions of Fear, Loneliness, and Public Stigma Related to COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: During the first peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, we investigated the impact of digital interventions to reduce COVID-19 related fear, loneliness, and public stigma.Methods: We recruited and randomly assigned 988 United States residents to: 1) no intervention 2) informational sheet to learn about COVID-19, 3) (2) AND video encouraging digital social activity, 4) (2) AND video sensitizing to COVID-19 related stigma (registered in Clinicaltrials.gov). Surveys were conducted between April 2-16, 2020. We employed generalized linear mixed models to investigate intervention effects.Results: 10% of the participants reported not being afraid of people COVID-19+ and 32% reported not feeling lonely. Stigma and fear items reflected acute worries about the outbreak. Relative to the informational sheet only group, video groups led to greater reduction in perceptions of fear towards COVID-19+ (ORvideo.solo = 0.78, p-val<0.001; ORvideo.friend = 0.79, p-val<0.001) and of stigma (BETAvideo.solo = −0.50, p-val<0.001; BETAvideo.friend = −0.69, p-val<0.001).Conclusion: Video-based interventions lead to reductions in COVID-19-related fear and stigma. No difference in social activity among groups was found, potentially explaining lack of efficacy on loneliness.

The comparison of fatigue, sleep quality, physical activity, quality of life, and psychological status in multiple sclerosis patients with or without COVID-19

PurposeThe study was purposed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 disease on fatigue, sleep quality, physical activity, quality of life, and psychological status in people with MS. MethodsA total of 104 people with MS, including 46 of them with COVID-19 disease history, were enrolled in the study. All patients were evaluated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the EuroQoL Instrument (EQ-5D-3L), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). ResultsPeople with MS in the COVID-19 positive group had a significantly lower IPAQ-Total score (p = 0.014). Besides, the FCV-19S scores of COVID-19 positive patients were significantly higher (p = 0.006). EQ-5D-3L Index and EQ-5D-3L VAS scores were higher in the group with COVID-19 (p1 = 0.021, p2 = 0.014, respectively). FCV-19S had a moderate correlation with EDSS (r = -0.362). IPAQ-Total was moderately associated with MS duration, EDSS and FSS (r1 = -0.471, r2 = -0.389, r3 = -0.388, respectively). The EQ-5D-3L Index was moderately correlated with FSS (r1 = -0.404). There was a weakly significant relationship between EQ-5D-3L Index and BMI, MS duration, PSQI and CAS (r1 = -0.471, r2 =-0.389, r3 = -0.388, r4 = -0.326, respectively). On the other hand, EQ-5D-3L was moderately associated with VAS and EDSS and PSQI (r1 = -0.393, r2 = -0.357, respectively). ConclusionCOVID-19 negatively affected the people with MS's physical activity and coronavirus related fear parameters. However, the causality of this influence should be investigated in detail.

Covid and the Psychology of the Pandemic Panic

ABSTRACT The paper at first notes the similarities between our experience of the virus Covid 19 and radiation. That similarity evokes apocalyptic fears in relation to the pandemic. What that means is complex. The apocalyptic, or the totalism of death, for one thing has a history that changed radically in the nuclear age that began decisively on August 6, 1945. We no longer need God to end life on earth. The power of ultimate destruction lies in human hands. That changes us psychologically, and to have Covid 19 evoke the apocalyptic in its association with radiation deepens the understandable dread but also the irrational responses to the pandemic. The paper ends with the hope in developing a level of realistic fear and to enhance Kohut’s life-affirming sense of empathy.

Paradoxes of Reactance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Social-psychological Perspective

This study aims to explain the dynamics of compliance towards the measures to contain the coronavirus in 2020 by drawing on the theory of psychological reactance. We discuss our findings in a model that distinguishes between catalysts and buffers of reactance arousal on an individual level and hypothesises how these may lead to compliant or resistant behaviour as acts of resilience in the public sphere. In an online survey (N = 766, May 2020, Germany), we found that reactance arousal towards the restrictions to contain the coronavirus depended on the individual assessment of the limitations of freedom. Data suggest that health related fear buffers reactance arousal, whereas surprisingly, sorrow and cognitive dissonance amplify it. Anger and a critical political attitude towards the government correlate positively with the mobilising power of reactance. We argue that these are essential elements that push individual reactance arousal over the threshold into the public sphere, where it serves to shove resilience towards resistance. Our study expands this essential social-psychological theory to be a driver not only in the individual but also in public behaviour, opening a new perspective on the tipping point between resilience and resistance in the public sphere during this crisis and beyond.