Practices regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and life satisfaction: A moderated mediation model of psychological distress and fear of Covid-19

• Published in: Acta psychologica Vol. 237; p. 103937
• Main Author: Duong, Cong Doanh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Fear of COVID-19; Life satisfaction; Practices related to COVID-19 outbreak; Psychological distress; Practices related to COVID-19 outbreak; Fear of COVID-19; Psychological distress; Life satisfaction
• ISSN: 0001-6918; 1873-6297
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103937

Increasing attention has been recently paid to the influences of the COVID-19 outbreak on the human psyche due to its potentially detrimental after-effects. However, little is known about the effects of practices introduced to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, such as social isolation and lockdowns, on individuals' psychological problems and well-being, or how a fear of COVID-19 amplifies or reduces these effects. Using a sample of 2680 Vietnamese adults, data were collected between 15 August and 15 November 2021 through an online-based survey. This study adopted a moderated mediation model. Remarkably, the fear of COVID-19 was not only found to significantly exacerbate the adverse effects of psychological distress on life satisfaction, but it also significantly decreased the impact of COVID-19 practices on satisfaction with life. The fear of COVID-19 significantly moderated the mediation effect of psychological distress on the relationship between COVID-19 practices and life satisfaction. This study makes significant and novel contributions to our extant knowledge about the destructive consequences of COVID-19. The findings of our study can benefit policymakers and practitioners and include valuable recommendations on how to avert psychological crises and increase individuals' well-being during or after a pandemic.