Covid-19 pandemic as a traumatic event and its associations with fear and mental health: A cognitive-activation approach
- Martin Sanchez-Gomezd(Author),
- ,
- Georgia Libera Finstadg(Author),
- Flavio Urbinig(Author),
- Giulia Fotig(Author),
- Nicola Muccif(Author)
- ,
- ,
- cIRCCS Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù - Roma,
- dJaume I University,
- eUniversity of Seville,
- fUniversity of Florence
Open access
Publication Information
Output type
Original language
EnglishArticle number
7422Journal (Volume, Issue Number)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Volume 18, Issue 14)Publication milestones
- Published - 02/07/2021
Publication status
ISSN
1661-7827External Publication IDs
- Scopus: 85109527624
- PubMed: 34299873
Abstract
The COVID-19 global pandemic still represents a major threat with detrimental health consequences. Analyzing the psychological outcomes, COVID-19 could be interpreted as a collec-tive traumatic event that can generate symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering this, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between intrusive thoughts and fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic and between intrusive thoughts and mental health; second, to test the mediating role of hyperarousal and avoidance in these two relationships. In order to reach these aims, the present study investigated these relationships and tested a mediation model in two cross-sectional studies in Italy. Altogether, 627 individuals and 495 workers completed an online survey for study 1 and study 2, respectively. Mediation analyses were performed via the SPSS macro PROCESS; the significance of total, direct, and indirect effect was tested via bootstrapping. The results showed that within the PTSD framework, hyperarousal compared with avoidance mediated the relationship between intrusion and the analyzed outcomes. In conclusion, the present study provided empirical evidence for the influence of hyperarousal on individual consequences such as fear of COVID-19 and mental health. Research, as well as theoretical and practical implications, are discussed.