Fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19): Predictors in an online study conducted in March 2020
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Abstract
Fear is an adaptive response in the presence of danger. However, when threat is uncertain and continuous, as in the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, fear can become chronic and burdensome. To identify predictors of fear of the coronavirus, we conducted an online survey (N = 439) three days after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic (i.e., between March 14 and 17, 2020). Fear of the coronavirus was assessed with the newly developed Fear of the Coronavirus Questionnaire (FCQ) consisting of eight questions pertaining to different dimensions of fear (e.g., subjective worry, safety behaviors, preferential attention), and an open-ended question. The predictors included psychological vulnerability factors (i.e., intolerance of uncertainty, worry, and health anxiety), media exposure, and personal relevance (i.e., personal health, risk for loved ones, and risk control). We found four predictors for the FCQ in a simultaneous regression analysis: health anxiety, regular media use, social media use, and risks for loved ones (R2 = .37). Furthermore, 16 different topics of concern were identified based participants’ open-ended responses, including the health of loved ones, health care systems overload, and economic consequences. We discuss the relevance of our findings for managing people’s fear of the coronavirus.
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People vary in their COVID-19 concerns and in their vulnerability to the pandemic's psychosocial effects.
“In addition, individual differences exist in the level of COVID-19 related concerns and therefore in the vulnerability to the psychosocial effects of the pandemic (Mertens, Gerritsen, et al., 2020; Taylor et al., 2021; Vos et al., 2021).”
From The association between facets of mindfulness and COVID-19 related distress: A cross-sectional study (2023) · cites this paper as Mertens, Gerritsen, et al., 2020
The Discussion (page not specified in our copy) reports a wide range of coronavirus concerns and finds that anxiety-related individual differences were associated with greater fear. It does not establish that differing levels of concern cause differing vulnerability to the pandemic’s broader psychosocial effects; the Discussion also cautions that the cross-sectional study cannot establish directionality. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredChildren with chronic illnesses appear especially vulnerable to IU's adverse effects.
“Children with chronic illnesses appear especially vulnerable to IU’s adverse effects (Mertens et al., 2020).”
From Intolerance of Uncertainty and Health-Related Anxiety in Youth amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding and Weathering the Continuing Storm (2022) · cites this paper as Mertens et al., 2020
The Introduction (page unavailable) describes intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as a general vulnerability factor for anxiety-related disorders, and the Discussion (page unavailable) reports a trend linking IU to greater fear of coronavirus. Neither passage establishes that children with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable to IU’s effects; the Discussion’s mention of chronic diseases concerns coronavirus risk, not IU. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEnhanced fear of the virus may be a risk factor for the mental health consequences of COVID-19.
“A potential risk factor for the mental health consequences of COVID-19 could be enhanced fear related to the virus (Mertens, Gerritsen, et al., 2020; Taylor et al., 2020b).”
From The association between facets of mindfulness and COVID-19 related distress: A cross-sectional study (2023) · cites this paper as Mertens, Gerritsen, et al., 2020
Most studies using the FCV-19S detected a link between fear of COVID-19 and anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depression.
“Most of these studies also detected a link between fear of COVID-19 and anxiety (Mertens et al., 2020) and, to a lesser extent, depression, using both the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; Ahorsu et al., 2020; Alyami et al., 2020) and the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).”
From Fear of COVID-19, Stress, and Anxiety in University Undergraduate Students: A Predictive Model for Depression (2020) · cites this paper as Mertens et al., 2020
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InfluentialSentimental Analysis of COVID-19 Tweets Using Deep Learning Models
Chintalapudi, N., Battineni, G., & Amenta, F. (2021) · Infectious Disease Reports · doi:10.3390/idr13020032 · Cited by 189 · see citing works
The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome scale: development and psychometric properties.
Nikčević, A. V., & Spada, M. M. (2020) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113322 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
The consequences of COVID-19 on social interactions: an online study on face covering
Calbi, M., Langiulli, N., Ferroni, F., Montalti, M., Kolesnikov, A., D, V. G. M., & Umiltà, M. A. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81780-w · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Psychological and Behavioral Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece
Parlapani, E., Holeva, V., Voitsidis, P., Blekas, A., Gliatas, I., Porfyri, G.-N., Golemis, A., Papadopoulou, K., Dimitriadou, A., Chatzigeorgiou, A. F., et al. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00821 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
De France, K., Hancock, G. R., Stack, D. M., Serbin, L. A., & Hollenstein, T. (2022) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/amp0000838 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Worry, avoidance, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comprehensive network analysis
Taylor, S. J., Landry, C. A., Paluszek, M. M., Rachor, G. S., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2020) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102327 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Knowles, K. A., & Olatunji, B. O. (2020) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102323 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Fear of COVID 19 Infection Across Different Cohorts: A Scoping Review
Quadros, S., Garg, S., Ranjan, R., Vijayasarathi, G., & Mamun, M. A. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708430 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Psychological, addictive, and health behavior implications of the COVID-19 pandemic
Zvolensky, M. J., Garey, L., Rogers, A. H., Schmidt, N. B., Vujanovic, A. A., Storch, E., Buckner, J., Paulus, D. J., Alfano, C., Smits, J. A. J., et al. (2020) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103715 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
“The psychological effect of the current global environment, characterized by feelings of fear, uncertainty, isolation, and stress (Mertens, Gerritsen, Salemink, & Engelhard, 2020), coupled with limited availability of adaptive coping tools due to regulations and consequences of COVID-19 (i.e.,…”
BackgroundSingh, D. R., Sunuwar, D. R., Shah, S. K., Karki, K., Sah, L. K., Adhikari, B., & Sah, R. K. (2021) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06176-y · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Karaköse, T., Yirci, R., & Papadakis, S. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13158654 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
“[92] reported that individuals might experience greater levels of anxiety and fear if they perceive a threat to their loved ones (e.”
BackgroundDo we experience pandemic fatigue? current state, predictors, and prevention
Haktanir, A., Can, N., Seki, T., Kurnaz, M., & Dilmac, B. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02397-w · Cited by 143 · see citing works
“, 2020), how long government restrictions will last (Rettie & Daniels, 2020), what will happen due to limited tests during the pandemic (Mertens et al., 2020), and what will happen in the future (Larsen et al.”
BackgroundVos, L. M. W., Habibović, M., Nyklíček, I., Smeets, T., & Mertens, G. (2021) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113927 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Self-citationFear of COVID-19, mindfulness, humor, and hopelessness: a multiple mediation analysis
Saricali, M., Satici, S. A., Satici, B., Gocet-Tekin, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2022) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00419-5 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Boyraz, G., Legros, D. N., & Tigershtrom, A. (2020) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102307 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
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Psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave network analysis
Di Blasi, M., Gullo, S., Mancinelli, E., Freda, M. F., Esposito, G., Gelo, O. C. G., Lagetto, G., Giordano, C., Mazzeschi, C., Pazzagli, C., et al. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.016 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Oomen, D., Nijhof, A. D., & Wiersema, J. R. (2021) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-021-00424-y · Cited by 136 · see citing works
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Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C., & Pakpour, A. H. (2020) · Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine · doi:10.1177/2333721420966081 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Satıcı, S. A., Kayiş, A. R., Satıcı, B., Griffiths, M. D., & Can, G. (2020) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00443-5 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Smith, M. K. S., Smit, I. P. J., Swemmer, L. K., Mokhatla, M., Freitag, S., Roux, D. J., & Dziba, L. (2021) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108985 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Sorokowski, P., Groyecka-Bernard, A., Kowal, M., Sorokowska, A., Białek, M., Lebuda, I., Dobrowolska, M., Zdybek, P. M., & Karwowski, M. (2020) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su12124912 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Pregnant women’s well-being and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Mortazavi, F., Mehrabadi, M., & KiaeeTabar, R. (2021) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-021-03548-4 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
“In a study at the start of COVID-19 pandemic on 439 individuals, perceived risk of loved ones contracting coronavirus was a predictor of fear of COVID-19 [21].”
BackgroundElhai, J. D., McKay, D., Yang, H., Minaya, C., Montag, C., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2020) · Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies · doi:10.1002/hbe2.227 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Khosravani, V., Aardema, F., Ardestani, S. M. S., & Bastan, F. S. (2021) · Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100626 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Social influence matters: We follow pandemic guidelines most when our close circle does
Tunçgenç, B., Zein, M. E., Sulik, J., Newson, M., Zhao, Y., Dezecache, G., & Deroy, O. D. (2021) · British Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjop.12491 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Alrahimi, J., Nass, N. M., Hassoubah, S. A., Wazqar, D. Y., & Alamoudi, S. A. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250554 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Sauer, K. S., Jungmann, S. M., & Witthöft, M. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17197241 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Qiao, P., Zhu, X., Guo, Y., Sun, Y., & Qin, C. L. (2021) · Journal of risk and financial management · doi:10.3390/jrfm14040162 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress and emotional reactions in Israel: a mixed-methods study
Levkovich, I., & Shinan‐Altman, S. (2020) · International Health · doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihaa081 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
“These ndings are in line with ndings of previous studies conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak pointing to a variety of concerns among research participants: health anxiety, personal health, threat to loved ones, and risk control, employment, virus spread and economic and societal consequences [21].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialExploring fear of COVID-19 and its correlates among older adults in Bangladesh
Mistry, S. K., Ali, A. M., Akther, F., Yadav, U. N., & Harris, M. (2021) · Globalization and Health · doi:10.1186/s12992-021-00698-0 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
“Uncertainty, worry, health anxiety, media exposure, personal health and the risk for loved ones are the predictors of fear for this disease [10].”
BackgroundSchmits, É., & Glowacz, F. (2021) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00432-8 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Identity change, uncertainty and mistrust in relation to fear and risk of COVID-19
Breakwell, G. M., & Jaspal, R. (2021) · Journal of Risk Research · doi:10.1080/13669877.2020.1864011 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Nikopoulou, V. A., Holeva, V., Parlapani, E., Karamouzi, P., Voitsidis, P., Porfyri, G.-N., Blekas, A., Papigkioti, K., Patsiala, S., & Diakogiannis, I. (2020) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00414-w · Cited by 104 · see citing works
“Health anxiety symptomatology, an expected consequence of prolonged fear due to a perceived threat to health (Winter et al. 2020), was also related to a more severe fear of COVID-19 (Mertens et al. 2020).”
BackgroundYin, Z., Kong, H., Baruch, Y., Decosta, P. L., & Yuan, Y. (2024) · Tourism Management · doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2024.104966 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Changes in Tinnitus Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Beukes, E. W., Baguley, D., Jacquemin, L., Lourenco, M. P. C. G., Allen, P. M., Onozuka, J., Stockdale, D., Kaldo, V., Andersson, G., & Manchaiah, V. K. C. (2020) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.592878 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
“The pandemic has been shown to increase fear and worry in the general population (14) and may potentially worsen levels of tinnitus due to the clear relationship between emotional distress and severe tinnitus (15).”
BackgroundVermote, B., Waterschoot, J., Morbée, S., van der Kaap‐Deeder, J., Schrooyen, C., Soenens, B., Ryan, R. M., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2021) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-021-00398-x · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Factors explaining the fear of being infected with COVID‐19
Cerda, A. A., & García, L. Y. (2021) · Health Expectations · doi:10.1111/hex.13274 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Foye, U., Dalton‐Locke, C., Harju‐Seppänen, J., Lane, R., Beames, L., Juan, N. V. S., Johnson, S., & Simpson, A. (2021) · Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/jpm.12745 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
“…placed focus on the impact of the pandemic on individuals (Fernandez-Aranda et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2020; Qiu et al., 2020; Pierce et al., 2020; Mertens et al., 2020; Mazza et al., 2020; Young Minds, 2020; Mind, 2020; RCPsych, 2020; Cheung, Fong & Bressington, 2020), with less focus on how it…”
BackgroundLatent profile analysis of COVID-19 fear, depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, and resilience
Yalçın, İ., Can, N., Çalışır, Ö. M., Yalçın, S., & Çolak, B. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01667-x · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Validation of the Impact of Event Scale With Modifications for COVID-19 (IES-COVID19)
Vanaken, L., Scheveneels, S., Belmans, E., & Hermans, D. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00738 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
“Mertens and colleagues (2020) conducted an online study three days after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic (15).”
BackgroundFactors Related to COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors: A Structural Equation Model
Šuriņa, S., Mārtinsone, K., Perepjolkina, V., Koļesņikova, J., Vainik, U., Ruža, A., Vrubļevska, J., Smirnova, D. A., Fountoulakis, K. Ν., & Rancāns, E. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.676521 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
“Consequently, the results of other studies (Al-Rasheed, 2020; Gerritsenb, 2020; Harper et al., 2020; Mertens et al., 2020) and the results of our study also emphasize the importance of fear as a threat assessment and a contributing factor to preventive behavior.”
ResultChen, X., Rahman, M. K., Rana, M. S., Gazi, M. A. I., Rahaman, M. A., & Nawi, N. C. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.760051 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Assessing the Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 in Undergraduate Medical Students
Guo, A. A., Crum, M., & Fowler, L. A. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18062952 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Korkmaz, H., & Güloğlu, B. (2021) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.110952 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
“The uncertain and continuous threat during the COVID-19 outbreak can cause the fear to become chronic and severe (Mertens et al., 2020).”
BackgroundMindfulness practice for protecting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Zhu, J. L., Schülke, R., Vatansever, D., Xi, D., Yan, J., Zhao, H., Xie, X., Feng, J., Chen, M. Y., Sahakian, B. J., et al. (2021) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01459-8 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
The Impact of Scarcity on Consumers’ Impulse Buying Based on the S-O-R Theory
Zhang, J., Jiang, N., Turner, J. J., & Pahlevansharif, S. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.792419 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Radwan, E., Radwan, A., & Radwan, W. (2020) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05807 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Lee, Y., Malcein, L. A., & Kim, S. C. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18073571 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
“An online study conducted in mid-March 2020 investigated the relationships among fear of COVID-19, intolerance of uncertainty, worry, anxiety, personal relevance of the threat, and media exposure (sources of COVID-19 information); results indicated that media exposure through regular and social media, tendency to worr…”
BackgroundPak, H., Süsen, Y., Nazlıgül, M. D., & Griffiths, M. D. (2021) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-021-00489-z · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Huerta, C. M., & Utomo, A. (2021) · Health & Place · doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102606 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
“For example, Mertens et al. (2020) have conducted an online survey (N = 439) to identify predictors of fear of the coronavirus across cross-country respondents recruited through targeted advertisements on Facebook.”
Schweda, A., Weismüller, B., Bäuerle, A., Dörrie, N., Musche, V., Fink, M., Dinse, H., Teufel, M., & Skoda, E. (2020) · Comprehensive Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152218 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Krampe, H., Danbolt, L. J., Haver, A., Stålsett, G., & Schnell, T. (2021) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03418-5 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Chiu, W., Oh, G., & Cho, H. (2021) · Journal of Consumer Behaviour · doi:10.1002/cb.1998 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
“Among various emotional responses that this pandemic situation evokes, fear is studied as a major emotional outcome of the current pandemic situation (Mertens et al., 2020; Schimmenti et al., 2020) or for its role in preventive health behaviors (Harper et al.”
BackgroundInfluentialSharma, M., Kaushal, D., & Joshi, S. (2023) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103256 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Millroth, P., & Frey, R. (2021) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102454 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Mertens, G., Duijndam, S., Smeets, T., & Lodder, P. (2021) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102415 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationOchnik, D., Rogowska, A. M., Kuśnierz, C., Jakubiak, M., Schütz, A., Held, M. J., Arzenšek, A., Benatov, J., Berger, R., Korchagina, E. V., et al. (2021) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm10132882 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
“Regular searching for additional information concerning the coronavirus turned out to be a risk factor related to the fear of the coronavirus [51].”
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Lee, D., Kim, Y.-J., Lee, D., Hwang, H.-H., Nam, S.-K., & Kim, J.-Y. (2020) · THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY · doi:10.23844/kjcp.2020.11.32.4.2119 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Factors associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among adolescents in South Korea
Park, S., & Oh, S. (2021) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.07.006 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
The Negative Impact of Social Media during COVID-19 Pandemic
Lelisho, M. E., Pandey, D., Alemu, B. D., Pandey, B. K., & Tareke, S. A. (2022) · Trends in Psychology · doi:10.1007/s43076-022-00192-5 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Stănculescu, E. (2021) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00428-4 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
“…to the cognitive aspects, studies have examined various psychological correlates such as personality characteristics, namely, intolerance of uncertainty (Mertens et al. 2020; Satici et al. 2020b), nervousness (Sakib et al. 2020) and behaviour change and political beliefs (Winter et al. 2020).”
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Giesbrecht, G. F., Rojas, L., Patel, S., Kuret, V., MacKinnon, A., Tomfohr‐Madsen, L. M., & Lebel, C. A. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.057 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Riva, G., Bernardelli, L., Browning, M. H. E. M., Castelnuovo, G., Cavedoni, S., Chirico, A., Cipresso, P., de Paula, D. M. B., Di Lernia, D., Fernández-Álvarez, J., et al. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.563319 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
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Intolerance of uncertainty over COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on anxiety and depressive symptoms
del Valle, M. V., Andrés, M. L., Urquijo, S., Avincetto, M. M. Y., López‐Morales, H., & Juric, L. C. (2020) · Revista Interamericana de Psicología/Interamerican Journal of Psychology · doi:10.30849/ripijp.v54i2.1335 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Cori, L., Curzio, O., Adorni, F., Prinelli, F., Noale, M., Trevisan, C., Fortunato, L., Giacomelli, A., & Bianchi, F. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18063248 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
“Other studies revealed that fear is an adaptive response in the presence of danger and can become chronic and burdensome when the threat is uncertain and continuous, as in the case of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [14].”
BackgroundBenke, C., Autenrieth, L. K., Asselmann, E., & Pané-Farré, C. A. (2023) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-022-01400-0 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
“Moreover, financial and job insecurities as well as worries about people’s own health and the health of loved ones might have led to increased distress [4, 5].”
BackgroundUsing Fear and Anxiety Related to COVID-19 to Predict Cyberchondria: Cross-sectional Survey Study
Wu, X., Nazari, N., & Griffiths, M. D. (2021) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/26285 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
“In addition, individuals with a higher level of intolerance of uncertainty exhibit prospective anxiety due to dispositional fear of unknown future events [31,32].”
- Authors
- Mertens, G., Gerritsen, L., Duijndam, S., Salemink, E., & Engelhard, I. M.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Tilburg University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Mertens, Gaëtan
- Venue
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-08
- Volume
- 74
- Pages
- 102258
- ISSN
- 0887-6185 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7286280
- OpenAlex
- W3020284447
- Cited by
- 1,264
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 120 · 2023: 209 · 2022: 350 · 2021: 410 · 2020: 100 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 106.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
- Keywords
- fear of COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, predictors of fear, health anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, worry, media exposure, social media use, personal relevance, safety behavior, economic impact
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pneumonia, Viral, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Coronavirus Infections, Internet, Uncertainty, Young Adult, Pandemics, Social Media
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