Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Nuernberger, P.
COVID-19 and the development of phobic fears of disease
Doktoratsstudium der Medizinischen Wissenschaft; Humanmedizin; [ Dissertation ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2022. pp. 88
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Baranyi Andreas
- Rothenhäusler Hans-Bernd
- von Lewinski Dirk
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Since 2020 onward the world is suffering from a pandemic of a disease called COVID-19. This disease, caused by the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus is a respiratory infection that causes not only somatic health issues, but also challenges the mental health of those people who are affected. This paper investigates why this pandemic is seen as a threat that can cause severe fear of disease and searches for predicting biopsychosocial factors that may identify people who need biopsychosocial support in the course of a pandemic. Methods: In order to answer our research questions literature research was performed. In addition to that, we performed an original research, including 368 participants. In our own research we investigated biological factors, mental health factors and social factors that may cause mental health threatening severe fear of COVID-19 by using author-compiled as well as standardized, well-established and well-validated psychometric questionnaires. Results: 162 /368 (44.0%) participants (33.3% male/66.6% female) had almost no fear of COVID-19, 170/368 (46.2%) participants (23.6% male/76.4% female) had moderate fear of COVID-19, and 45/368 (12.2%) participants (2.2% male/97.8% female) had severe fear of COVID-19. Female participants more often showed higher levels of fear of COVID-19 (χ2= 18.47, df= 2, p<0.001). Moreover, financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher levels of fear of COVID-19 [ANCOVA: levels of fear of COVID-19(financial loss x gender): F(1, 363)= 22.853, p< .001]. Furthermore, the level of fear of COVID-19 increased in male participants when they had more contact to people who were infected with COVID-19, while in contrast the level of fear of COVID-19 decreased in female participants when they had such contact [ANCOVA: levels of fear of COVID-19(contact x gender): F(1,363)= 5.596, p= .019]. In addition to that, people who are in a relationship show significant lower levels of fear than those who are not in a relationship (ꭓ2 =14.582, df= 6, p=0.024). Multiple regression analysis revealed female gender, severe health anxiety (WI-IAS) and pre-existing higher levels of state as well as trait anxiety (STAI) as significant predictors of severe fear of COVID-19. Conclusion: A pandemic can be seen as a direct and indirect threat to a person’s wellbeing. An individual can react with fear, a biologic response to a threat. As fear has a lot of negative effects for the person who shows fear, it is crucial to identify those people in danger of developing severe fear of disease. We found certain biopsychosocial factors that can predict severe fear of COVID-19 and this knowledge might help to provide biopsychosocial support for those who need it.