Behaviour is the Key in a Pandemic: The Direct and Indirect Effects of COVID-19-Related Variables on Psychological Wellbeing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemic-related mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing. The results showed high levels of psychological distress among the current sample. Generally, better knowledge of COVID-19 and engaging in protective behaviours were found to be related to lower levels of psychological distress, whereas increased risk perception was found to be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. It was also found that behaviour mediated the effect of knowledge on psychological wellbeing, suggesting that while publicising information about COVID-19 remains necessary, providing the public with a means to engage in protective behaviours is central for promoting psychological wellbeing.

Assessing the cognitive component of subjective well-being: Revisiting the satisfaction with life scale with classical test theory and item response theory

“…Colombia: Kocalevent et al, 2017;Nigeria: Aloba, Olabisi, Ajao, & Aloba, 2017;and Japan: Sueki, 2020). Similar satisfactory estimates of reliability have also been reported for student samples in South Africa (Heppner, Pretorius, Wei, Lee, & Wang, 2002;Padmanabhanunni & Pretorius, 2021b).…”

From fear and vulnerability to fortitude: sustaining psychological well-being in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…More recent studies have reported satisfactory reliability (e.g., Sueki, 2022 : KR-20 = .90; Rueda-Jaimes et al, 2018 : KR-20 = .90). Padmanabhanunni and Pretorius (2022) reported a KR-20 coefficient of .90 for a sample of South African students.…”

“…More recent applications of the CES-D have reported similarly satisfactory reliability coefficients (e.g., Moeini et al, 2019 : α = .85; Faisal et al, 2022 : α and ω = .87). Padmanabhanunni and Pretorius (2022) reported a reliability coefficient of .92 for a sample of South African students.…”

Psycho-behavioural responses of the general population to COVID-19 after mass vaccination: a cross-sectional study

“…In fact, the relationship between behavioural and psychological responses to the pandemic has been studied prior to mass vaccination with mixed results yielded (Benke et al, 2020;Kwok et al, 2021;Marroquín et al, 2020;Padmanabhanunni and Pretorius, 2021;Wong and Alias, 2021;Zhao et al, 2020). However, during periods of high infection rates and strict social distancing measures, adoption of social distancing measures was positively associated with anxiety, depression and stress (Benke et al, 2020;Kwok et al, 2021;Marroquín et al, 2020).…”