High Fear Research Articles

The influence of the pandemic on fear of contagion, blood pressure management and adherence to medication in hypertensive older adults in Turkey.

The study was conducted to identify the impact of the pandemic on hypertensive older people’s COVID-19 fear, blood pressure control, and medication adherence. In this descriptive, correlational study, mean medication adherence was taken as 45.6 ± 6.06% based on the literature, with a 5% margin of error, and the sample size was determined as 292 with 95% confidence interval and 80% power. Data were collected from 419 older individuals using a sociodemographic information form, an infodemic-related questionnaire, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale via Google Forms. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software via independent sample t test, one-way variance analysis, χ2 analysis, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. It was found that, rather than avoiding hospitals during a pandemic, one out of two older people had had their blood pressure checked. One out of every five had abnormal/uncontrolled blood pressure during the pandemic. The infodemic was found to increase concern levels, and those with high fear scores had abnormal/uncontrolled levels of blood pressure. Moreover, a low-level positive correlation was found between medication adherence and the level of fear of COVID-19. As the pandemic continues, older people with hypertension need support in terms of monitoring blood pressure and medication adherence as well as increased awareness about the pandemic.

EPISTEMOLOGICAL RESTRICTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CHANGE OF EMOTION AND BEHAVIOR

BackgroundOver the past few centuries, philosophers have proposed various solutions based on introspection, which is used to find evidence and refute speculation in their thinking research. Nowadays, with the significant progress of knowledge and research tools, the progress of neuroscience has revealed some brain processes behind human thoughts and emotions, which can provide useful insights for us to study brain related problems. With the rise of psychology, we have a better model to study the logic behind human emotion.Research objects and methodsWhen analyzing the significance of neural basis discovery and related mechanism of cognitive behavior intention of others, this paper carefully points out that this correlation can not fully explain the understanding of others' thinking. On the contrary, this correlation only plays a minimal role. The author further discusses the Epistemological Characteristics of other psychological knowledge. In other words, as a kind of private knowledge, the experience of others can achieve relatively consistent understanding and communication through the public expression and description of psychological state; In addition, the PRCA-24 table contains four subscales, each with six entries, which are used to measure the degree of communication in group discussion, conversation between two people, participation in meetings and public speech. When the total score is measured, the subscale score can be obtained. The scale adopts a 5-level scoring system (1 = very agree, 5-very disagree). Subscale scores ranged from 6 (low communication fear) to 30 (high communication fear). The total score ranges from 24 to 120. There are some large sample norm about PRCA-24 table. Mccrokey used the total score of PRCA-24 to distinguish the degree of communication fear, and specified that less than 52 points are low fear and more than 79 points are high fear.ResultHowever, it is impossible to truly understand the thoughts of others, because conscious experience only exists in the strict sense of owner, and the unique quality within the subject cannot be measured from the perspective of a third party. Results: Our results showed that although there was a positive correlation between promoting anxiety and understanding ability, it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In human psychological anxiety, debilitating anxiety dominated, and the results were statistically significant (P < 0.01). This means that debilitating anxiety can be used as an indicator to measure the level of human anxiety. The results show that there is a negative correlation between listening anxiety and listening performance. Pearson correlation in high anxiety group was significantly higher than that in low anxiety group. This shows that the party who can't understand others well is more anxious than the party who can understand others well.ConclusionIn this sense, the so-called perception of others' thinking is not to seek a causal explanation of others' behavior, but to explain the meaning expressed by others under specific circumstances. Finally, the society should strengthen positive cognitive education, carry out targeted education for relevant personnel, correctly guide positive emotions, turn some anxiety and impulsive emotions into rational motives, and guide them to carry out relevant activities according to their own advantages and characteristics. Set an example, clarify the incentive objectives, regularly hold relevant knowledge popularization, experience introduction, project display and other activities, set a successful example for positive emotions, clarify the objectives of positive activities, form strong psychological motivation, stimulate internal potential and help realize positive behaviors. Strengthen professional guidance and make the motivation of winning the bid behavioral. Give full play to social potential and have high psychological quality and professional knowledge in business field. Experts and scholars can be organized to establish a professional bid winning guidance team, give full play to the business projects of experts and scholars in their respective fields, and carry out scientific research on entrepreneurial projects.AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by the Major Project of National Social Science Fund (Grant No. 18ZDA029).

The Attitude of Turkish Physicians Toward COVID-19 Vaccination and the Effects of Vaccination on Their Mental Health.

The study aims to investigate the willingness of physicians for the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination, factors contributing to their attitude, and the effects of vaccination on their mental health. It is conducted online with physicians between February 17 and March 17, 2021, corresponding to a period of at least 1 month after the first dosage. Sociodemographic and professional characteristics are investigated along with coronavirus disease 2019 experiences. The Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Scale, Attitudes Toward the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale are given to evaluate the effects on mental health. Among 578 participants, the total vaccination rate was 91.5% and the main reason for non-vaccination is being already infected by coronavirus disease 2019. Vaccination affected mental health positively in more than half of the participants (59.2% in the vaccinated group). Advanced age (odds ratio = 0.985, P < .05), positive attitude toward vaccination (odds ratio = 0.918, P < .001), and high fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (odds ratio = 0.937, P = .001) were among the predictors of being positively affected by the vaccination. Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 was positively correlated with hopelessness (r = .239, P < .001), depression (r = 0.387, P < .001), and anxiety (r = 0.531, P < .001). The negative thoughts about the vaccination were found to be correlated with hopelessness levels (r = -0.093, P < .05). Physicians have positive attitudes toward vaccination and vaccination has positive effects on their mental health. As vaccination is a key point during the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, studies on vaccination and its effects on mental health gained importance. The role of physicians in this regard is inevitable.

Psychological flexibility moderates the influence of fear avoidance on outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Objectives Psychological factors contribute to poorer long-term outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI); however, the exact psychological mechanisms that underly this relationship are not well understood. This study examined the relationship between psychological flexibility, fear avoidance, and outcomes over the first 6 months after mTBI Method Adults with mTBI-completed measures of psychological flexibility, fear avoidance, post-concussion symptoms, and functional status at baseline (<3 months post-injury; N = 152), and 3-month (N = 133) and 6-month follow-up (N = 102). A conceptually derived moderation-mediation analysis was used to test the mediating effect of fear avoidance on post-concussion symptoms and functional outcomes, and the moderating effects of psychological flexibility on fear avoidance. Results Fear avoidance had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between post-concussion symptoms and functional status across all three time points. Psychological flexibility was found to significantly moderate these effects. Only low levels of psychological flexibility had a significant influence on the mediating effects of high fear avoidance on functional status at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions Psychological flexibility may influence mTBI recovery by exerting an influence on fear avoidance. These initial findings provide a potential theoretical explanation of how fear avoidance can become maladaptive with time after mTBI.

Entrepreneurial fear of failure: An international comparison of antecedents and impact on venture creation

ABSTRACT Fear of failure is a key barrier in starting a business throughout the world due to the high risks involved to the founders’ finances, relationships, status, and self-esteem. Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data, it was observed that countries with high fear of failure have low total early-stage entrepreneurial activity for developed countries only, and that the gap between the ratio of men to women entrepreneurs in countries with high fear of failure is narrower. Countries with higher self-perceived capabilities are lower in fear of failure. However, societal norms, education, access to funding, and perceived government policy had little effect. Countries with greater economic development seem lower in fear of failure than those less developed and the higher the rate of necessity-driven entrepreneurship, the less relevant fear of failure becomes in inhibiting entrepreneurship. This article aims to understand which factors can influence fear of failure to allow governments to put in place policies to reduce this as a barrier to start-ups, which ultimately influences the country’s prospects for economic growth. This article can be used to encourage policies that can be tailored to each country’s unique ecosystem based on the underlying reasons for fear of failure in that country.

Preference of online friends over face-to-face friends: Effect of interpersonal fears on online relationship building preference

The emergence of online social networking has increased development of exclusively online friendships. Individuals in online environments are willing to invest considerable time and effort to develop and maintain relationships as they would in other gathering spaces. In some cases, individuals find it preferable to make friends via the internet over more traditional means of relationship formation. The current study examines preference for online friends over face-to-face friends. Initially, we developed a brief, one-dimensional, 11-item questionnaire assessing online friendship preference based on semi-structured interviews. Confirmatory factor analysis showed support for a one-factor model. Internal consistency was established using inter-item correlation, corrected item-total correlation, and Cronbach’s α. Subsequently, we examined the psychological determinants and consequences of preference for online friendship formation. Participants who reported higher fear of intimacy and perceived relationship vulnerability reported greater preference for online friends over face-to-face friends. Preference for online friendship was related to increased risk of problematic internet use. The findings suggest that interpersonal fears, combined with attributes of online communication (e.g., reduced social cues and more personal control) motivate some individuals to prefer online intimacies over face-to-face friendships, thereby increasing time spent online.

Exposure Detection Applications Acceptance: The Case of COVID-19.

The pandemic’s context is rife with numerous dangerous threats and high fear levels, influencing human decision-making. Such characteristics are identified by investigating the acceptance of exposure detection apps from the technology acceptance model (TAM) perspective. This study purposed a model to investigate protection technology acceptance, specifically exposure detection apps in the context of COVID-19. Quantitative study approach and a cross-section design targeted 586 participants from Saudi Arabia. As the study model is complex, the study hypotheses were analysed using the structural equation modelling–partial least squares (SEM-PLS3) approach. The findings support the entire model hypothesis except the link between social media awareness and exposure detection apps’ intention. Mediation of COVID-19 anxiety and influence was confirmed as well. The current paper contributes to the technologies acceptance domain by developing a context-driven model comprising the major pandemic characteristics that lead to various patterns of technology acceptance. This study also fills the literature gap regarding mediating effects of social influence and COVID-19 anxiety in the relationship between trust in government and exposure detection apps implementation, and between COVID-19 anxiety and exposure detection apps implementation, respectively. The results may assist government agencies, health policymakers, and health organisations in the wide world and specifically Saudi Arabia, in their attempts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic spread.

The impact of fear on the effectiveness of customer empowerment‐messages in online retailing

AbstractWe explore the effectiveness of empowerment‐messages in two contexts of fear caused by an existential threat: COVID‐19 pandemic and economic fear. We show in a field experiment that an empowerment‐message, which increased sales of an online retailer by 13% before COVID‐19 lockdowns when fear was low, does not have the same effect post‐COVID‐19 lockdowns when fear is high. Three follow‐up experiments show that when fear is low, an empowerment‐message makes individuals feel responsible and increases purchase. When fear is high, an empowerment‐message does not make individuals feel responsible and does not improve purchase. We find that personal control that is generally desired, does not resonate with individuals in the context of fear caused by an existential threat. This implies that marketers should reconsider their use of marketing efforts that empower consumers in high fear contexts.

“I Felt Completely Turned off by the Message”: The Effects of Controlling Language, Fear, and Disgust Appeals on Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination Messages

Psychological reactance theory (PRT) posits that when individuals’ perceived freedoms are threatened or restricted, they become aversively aroused and are motivated to reestablish those freedoms, leading to a state of psychological reactance. Applying PRT, this study examined the effects of controlling language, fear, and disgust appeals on responses to COVID-19 vaccination promotion messages. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions across controlling language (high/low), fear appeals (high/low), and disgust appeals (high/low), wherein they viewed two messages, with responses measured after each message. Results showed persuasion was diminished when the levels of any of these three variables were elevated, as in conditions of either high controlling language, high fear appeals, or high disgust appeals. Relative to low levels of these variables, high levels resulted in greater freedom threat perceptions, reactance, source derogation, and less positive attitudes toward the message. A 2-way interaction between fear and disgust appeals on source derogation and message attitudes in the low controlling language condition was significant—participants reported the least source derogation and most positive attitudes toward the message in response to the low controlling language, low fear, and low disgust appeals.

Hopes and fears: A qualitative analysis of the intern perspective at the start of EM residency.

ObjectivesMost emergency medicine (EM) residency programs have orientation curricula to guide interns through the transition from medical school to residency, although no standard components are required. This transition is recognized as a challenging time for young physician learners; however, there is no current understanding of the perspective of incoming interns as they enter residency. We sought to identify themes, examine the current literature, and reflect on the experiences of our residency leadership to inform the creation of orientation activities that foster positive experiences, as well as directly address intern fears and anxieties.MethodsThis qualitative study collected free text responses on the first day of EM orientation regarding areas of high excitement and high fear as interns entered residency. Data were collected from 2011 to 2019 in a 4‐year EM residency program and a 6‐year combined EM‐Anesthesia residency program in the Mid‐Atlantic. An inductive approach was used to code intern responses and develop themes within each category, and a frequency analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 112 interns participated. Thematic analysis of coded responses yielded 11 themes around “most excited” and 13 themes around “most scared.” The most frequent themes for “most excited” were: (1) Forming new relationships, (2) Building and applying knowledge, and (3) Being responsible for the care and education of others. For “most scared,” the most frequent themes were: (1) work–life balance and burnout, (2) making harmful mistakes, and (3) knowledge wealth and retention.ConclusionsWe identified themes of high excitement and high fear for interns entering residency orientation. Based on the themes developed and current literature, recommendations for residency programs regarding intern orientation are provided, specifically that programs intentionally address opportunities for professional identity formation, building relationships with new people/places, emphasizing wellness, and mitigating burnout.

Misconceptions and Fears among Primary Health Care Physicians in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, regarding COVID-19

This study aimed to identify primary care physicians’ misconceptions regarding COVID-19, and to assess their fear of COVID-19. Following an analytical cross-sectional study design in primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, 515 PHC physicians were included. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. It included personal characteristics, misconceptions about COVID-19, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results showed that only 10.5% of PHC physicians did not have any misconceptions regarding COVID-19, while 53.6% had low misconceptions and 35.9% had high misconceptions. PHC physicians’ main sources of information about COVID-19 were the social media (58.1%), followed by the Internet (55.5%), and mass media (47%). More than half of primary care physicians (50.1%) had high grades of fear of COVID-19. PHC physicians’ misconceptions scores significantly and positively correlated with their COVID-19 fears scores (r=0.425, p&lt;0.001). Differences in grades of misconceptions among PHC physicians differed significantly according to their nationality (p=0.003), but did not differ significantly according to any other personal characteristics. The youngest PHC physicians (aged &lt;30 years) had significantly the highest grades of high fear of COVID-19 (58.4%, p&lt;0.001). Female PHC physicians had significantly more high fear grade toward COVID-19 than males (56.6% and 47.2%, respectively, p=0.048). The study concluded that misconceptions and fears regarding COVID-19 are common among PHC physicians in Aseer Region. Social media is the main source of health information regarding COVID-19. Fear among PHC physicians is significantly and positively correlated with their misconceptions. Keywords: Misconceptions, Corona phobia, Fear of COVID-19, Primary healthcare, Saudi Arabia

ADHD in a patient with eating disorder. Case report

Introduction15-year-old female referred to outpatient unit after COVID lockdown for binge eating and purging with depressive symptoms and anxiety.ObjectivesTo show the importance of a correct diagnosis in an impulsive patient with eating disorderMethodscase report and literature reviewResultsThe patient presents emotional instability with interpersonal difficulties with high fear of rejection. She suffered from fear of gaining weight and desires to lose weight with rejection of her body image. Fluoxetine and lorazepam are started together with low doses of olanzapine. During the follow up she presented a worsening of mood, onset of self-injuries and an episode of suicidal attempt. A biographical examination was performed, expressing a feeling of academic failure with difficulty concentrating and performing simple tasks. As a child she is described as impulsive, with frequent arguments with classmates. CPT III was performed with a high probability of ADHD. Treatment was started with lisdexamfetamine up to 50 mg with good tolerance. From the beginning of the treatment the patient expressed a feeling of improvement in the control of emotions as well as in the management of her impulsivity. There was an improvement in her academic performance with a decrease in self-injury episodes. The patient was able to express improvement in the sense of incapacity she felt.ConclusionsThis case shows how marked emotional dysregulation and impulsive symptoms improves after diagnosis and subsequent treatment of ADHD, also improving eating symptoms. ADHD is present in eating disorders, especially in those with impulse dyscontrol such as binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

7-LB: Gender Differences in Reported Consequences of Level 2 and Level 3 Hypoglycemia among Adults Living with Type 1 Diabetes—A BETTER Registry Analysis

Introduction: Hypoglycemia is a common side effect of type 1 diabetes (T1D) therapy with consequences ranging from physical and cognitive impairment to reduced quality of life. Studies evaluating consequences of level 2 (L2H, glucose level&amp;lt;3.0mmol/L without needing assistance from another person to recover) and level 3 (L3H, needing assistance from another person) hypoglycemia between the genders are sparse. Aim: To highlight the differences in reported consequences related to both L2H and L3H between genders. Methods: Self-reported data from an online Canadian registry of adults with T1D were analyzed using logistic regression models adjusted for age, diabetes technology use, hypoglycemia history in the past month, Hypoglycemia Fear Survey II (HFS II) , and Hypoglycemia Confidence Scale (HCS) scores. Results: Among 877 adults (65% women, mean age 43 ± 15 years, mean duration of T1D 25 ± 15 years, 34% reported a HbA1c ≤ 7.0%, 81% used continuous glucose monitoring, and 43% used an insulin pump) , 15% experienced L3H in the past year and 81% experienced L2H in the past month. Women reported more L2H (84% vs. 75%, p=0.004) and worse HFS-II and HCS scores than men (median 33 [IQR 23, 47] vs. 28 [18, 38], p=0.002 and 3.2 [2.9, 3.6] vs. 3.4 [3.0, 3.8], p&amp;lt;0.001, respectively) . The adjusted regression models showed that women were more likely than men to report experiencing persistent fatigue after L2H (OR 1.76, 95%CI [1.19, 2.61]) and increased anxiety, persistent fatigue, or an additional encounter with a healthcare professional after a L3H episode (1.71 [1.04, 2.82]; 1.75 [1.02, 3.00]; 2.59 [1.17, 5.74], respectively) . Conclusion: Women report significantly more L2H and L3H consequences compared to men, in addition to reporting higher fear and lower confidence. Social constructs on stress management may explain the observed gender differences, and suggest taking a gender-based differential approach when addressing hypoglycemia. Disclosure M. K. Talbo: None. M. Lebbar: None. V. Messier: None. Z. Wu: Other Relationship; Eli Lilly and Company. A. Brazeau: Research Support; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. R. Rabasa-lhoret: Consultant; HLS Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., Other Relationship; Abbott Diabetes, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medtronic, Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., Sanofi, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Research Support; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Diabetes Canada, Fondation Francophone pour la Recherche en Diabète (FFRD) , JDRF, National Institutes of Health, Société Francophone du Diabète (SFD) , Speaker’s Bureau; Canadian Medical &amp; Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group (CMS) , CPD Network, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. Funding Canadian Institutes of Health Research (JT1-157204) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (4-SRA-2018-651-Q-R)

코로나19 위험지각 및 스트레스와 갯벌의 지각된 회복환경의 관계 연구

Individuals' anxiety and fatigue have been steadily increasing as a result of the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak. Because mental illnesses frequently lead to physical illnesses, engaging in outdoor activities is highly recommended for resolving these issues. Individuals with high fear and stress from COVID-19 may benefit from natural environments such as wetlands, which can help them recover mentally and physically. As a result, the purpose of this study was to look into the effects of individuals' risk perception and stress caused by COVID-19 on their mental health, as well as revisiting their intention of visiting wetlands due to their perceived environmental restorativeness. In June 2021, an online survey of people who had visited wetlands since January 2020 was conducted. There were 728 questionnaires returned in total. The following are the study's findings. First, the risk perception of COVID-19 has a positive effect on perceived stress. Second, the perceived stress of COVID-19 has a negative impact on mental health, but this impact is mitigated by wetlands' perceived environmental restorativeness. Third, mental well-being and revisiting intention are positively influenced by perceived environmental restorativeness. The findings of the study suggest that a variety of policies and programs are required to encourage people to engage in outdoor activities in natural settings, such as wetlands.

Effect of Covid-19 Fear on Dental Anxiety Levels among Adult Patients in Periurban Islamabad

Objectives: To evaluate dental anxiety levels and fear of covid-19 and the correlation of dental anxiety with covid-19 fear. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rawal General and Dental Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan using convenient sampling technique over a period of 6 months. A sample size of 167 adult (18yrs+) patients was taken. Data was collected through validated questionnaires in the OPD. Results: It was observed that people with higher fear of covid-19 had significantly higher dental anxiety levels and vice versa. The relation being significant (p &lt;0.05). Conclusion: it was found that female patients had both high dental anxiety and fear of covid-19 while people aged 41yrs and above only had higher fear of covid-19 as compared to dental anxiety Keywords: Covid-19, Fear of Covid-19, Dental Anxiety, Covid-19 and Dental Anxiety

Mental distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study among communities affected by Ebola virus disease in the DR Congo

BackgroundAssociated with high mortality rate, fear, and anxiety, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a significant risk factor for mental distress. This longitudinal study aims to investigate the prevalence and predictors associated with mental distress among populations affected by EVD outbreaks in the Province of Equateur in DR Congo. MethodsSurveys were administered in zones affected by the 2018 EVD outbreak in Equateur Province with a 16-month interval. Measures assessed sociodemographic characteristics, mental distress (GHQ-12), COVID-19 and EVD exposure and related stigmatization, and Resilience. Models of logistic regression and path analysis were used to estimate factors related to mental distress outcomes. ResultsPrevalence of mental distress decreased from Wave 1 to Wave 2 (Mental distressT1= 57.04%, Mental distressT2= 40.29%, x2= 23.981, p<.001). Clinical mental distress score at follow-up was predicted by greater levels of exposure to Ebola at baseline (B= .412, p<.001) and at Wave 2 (B= .453, p<.001) as well as Ebola stigmatization at baseline (B= .752, p<.001), and Protestant religion (B= .474, p=.038). Clinical mental distress score at follow-up was significantly associated with higher levels of exposure to COVID-19 (B= .389, p=.002) and COVID-19 related stigmatization (B= .480, p<.001). COVID-19 related stigmatization partially mediated the association between exposure to EVD (Time 1) and mental distress (B= .409, p<.001). ConclusionsAlthough a decrease in mental distress symptoms was observed, its prevalence remains high. The results show that mental health programs need to develop better health and education communication strategies to reduce stigmatization.

Gender differences in concerns, stress levels and behavior changes in dental academics in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed a significant psychological burden on the healthcare personnel. Dental academics play a crucial role in the promotion of public oral health and the education of dental students. The aim of the study was to assess COVID-19-related concerns, stress and behavior changes in Iranian dental academics, determine the associated factors, and assess the potential gender differences. In this cross-sectional study, we shared a researcher-developed questionnaire with Iranian dental academics through social media and e-mail. The questionnaire contained 4 sections: Background (8 items and additional 6 knowledge questions); Concerns (18 items); Stress (based on the 15-item Impact of Event Scale (IES)); and Behavior Change (5 items). We divided the concerns by means of the principal component analysis (PCA) into 3 various components of the fear of infection, concerns over professional responsibilities and concerns over restrictions. The backward stepwise multilevel linear and logistic regression analyses served to discover the association of other factors with stress and behavior changes. Out of 274 respondents, 66% were female, and 78% were 45 years old or younger. Approximately half of the respondents demonstrated moderate to severe stress and the median (Me) for behavior change was 46.5 out of 50. The greatest concern expressed by the participants referred to the fear of becoming infected by their patients and spreading the virus to their loved ones. Being female, living with parents and not having any administrative role, along with greater fear of infection, concerns over restrictions and academic experience were associated with higher levels of COVID-19-related stress. Being female and having an administrative role, along with greater fear of infection and knowledge, and more daily patient visits were associated with desirable COVID-19-related behavior changes. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected dental academics' psychological state, leading to various levels of concern, stress and behavior change. Supportive and educational programs must target those with high fear and stress levels to prevent undesirable behaviors.

Sound of silence: Does Muting Notifications Reduce Phone Use?

Smartphone users often feel disturbed by the constant rings and buzzes coming from their phones. As a solution, many try to silence notifications to avoid distractions. But, will silencing notifications help users feel less distracted or more preoccupied with what they will be missing out? To answer this question, we drew upon the Uses & Gratifications (U&G) approach in the field of communication and conducted a study of objective behavioral data collected from the Screen Time tool of 138 iPhone users. Data suggest that users tend to pick up their phones and check for messages more often when it is in silent mode than when it is on audio-alert or vibrate modes. This tendency is especially true for individuals who have high Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Need to Belong (NtB). Silencing notifications for them appears to be more, rather than less, psychologically distressing. Our findings offer new insights into understanding the relationship between notifications and mobile phone usage, especially how the sound and vibration cues of notifications assuage users’ uncertainty and fulfil their informational, social and environmental surveillance gratifications. Results also suggest that many current solutions for mobile phone overuse, like the “Do not disturb” function, may be counter-productive.

Psychosocial predictors of young male workers’ discrimination against older workers in Japan: comparison of four models

AbstractTo create environments conducive to the wellbeing of workers, especially older workers, it is important to gain insight into ageism among young workers as a distinct segment in the workplace. However, this ageism remains unclear. This study explored the psychosocial predictors of discrimination against older Japanese workers by their younger male counterparts. Four models – Intergroup Contact Theory (ICT), Knowledge–Attitude–Behaviour Model (KABM), Terror Management Theory (TMT) and Frustration–Aggression Theory (FAT) – formed the basis of the study. All the models included positive and negative dimensions of stereotypes as mediators between predictors and discrimination. Data from 874 participants were obtained through a voluntary web survey for employees aged 25–39 years who lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area. A scale describing interactions with older workers (supportive, uncomfortable and avoidance), Facts on Ageing quiz, fears of being an older worker and a job dissatisfaction survey were employed to examine the hypotheses based on the above theories. The results supported the hypotheses based on ICT and FAT but not KABM. Higher supportive contacts were significantly related to lower discrimination mediated by a higher positive and lower negative dimension of stereotypes. Contacts characterised by higher discomfort were significantly related to higher discrimination mediated by a lower positive and higher negative dimension of stereotypes. Higher job dissatisfaction was related to higher discrimination mediated by lower positive stereotypes. Interestingly, higher fear of being an older worker was significantly related to lower discrimination mediated by higher positive stereotypes, contrary to the TMT-based hypotheses. Thus, ICT and FAT regarding ageism can explain young male workers’ discrimination against older workers in Japan, which differs culturally from Western countries. Furthermore, the results of the study suggest that boosting the quality of interactions as well as reducing bad interactions with older workers contribute to lower discrimination.

0054 A Fear of Dying: How an Obsession with Death During the Pandemic Contributes to More Severe Insomnia

IntroductionThe prevalence of insomnia and other sleep disorders increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While general anxiety, which increased during the pandemic, may account for some of the rise in sleep complaints, other factors may also contribute to insomnia. Here, we examined the potential contribution of fear of dying from the novel coronavirus on the severity of insomnia. We hypothesized that those endorsing a high fear of dying specifically from COVID-19 within 12 months of their assessment would demonstrate more severe insomnia.MethodsFrom April 2020 through October 2021, 13,298 U.S. participants (18-92 years old; 57.5% female) completed a online survey (~1,000 participants per month) that included an assessment of their perceived likelihood of dying from COVID in the next year, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale-7 (GAD-7), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). We examined insomnia over the course of the first year of the pandemic and divided the sample into those who endorsed at least a 50% or greater perceived likelihood that they would die from COVID-19 in the next year versus those who endorsed a less than 50% perceived likelihood of dying from the illness.ResultsFear of dying (50% chance or higher) was associated with higher ISI scores (p<.00001) and tended to decline over the course of the year (p<.00001). A significant month x fear interaction (p=.021) suggested that individuals who believed they would die within the year showed significantly fluctuations in insomnia over the course of 13 months with peaks around June and October 2020. Even accounting for situational anxiety (GAD-7), those with a fear of dying still demonstrated higher insomnia levels than their counterparts (p<.00001).ConclusionSelf-perceived likelihood of dying from COVID-19 in the near future was associated with significantly elevated severity of insomnia, and this remained true even when controlling for a clinical assessment of generalized anxiety levels. These findings suggest that fear of succumbing to the novel coronavirus contributed significantly to the severity of sleep problems during the first year of the pandemic.Support (If Any)