Fatalism in the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Mitigation and Mental Health

Abstract

This research assessed fatalism toward COVID-19 and its role in behavioral intentions to support mitigation efforts (e. g., social distancing) and mental well-being. A COVID-19 fatalism measure was developed, and a messaging manipulation (fatalistic vs. optimistic vs. no message) was created to examine causal links between fatalism scores. Support for mitigation efforts and negative affect (anxiety, fear, depression, and insecurity) were measured to examine the consequences of fatalism toward COVID-19. Results showed that the fatalistic messaging condition increased fatalism whereas the optimistic message reduced it. The effects of the messaging manipulation were also apparent in the downstream measures of support for mitigation and negative affect through the mediator of fatalism toward COVID-19. Specifically, fatalism negatively predicted intentions to support mitigation. Regarding mental health, fatalism was positively associated with depression but negatively associated with fear and insecurity. Implications for COVID-19 mitigation efforts and mental health in the face of the coronavirus pandemic are discussed.

The Role of CSR Engagement in Customer-Company Identification and Behavioral Intention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…These emerging social platforms exhibit their great potentials to generate more dialogic dynamics through which individuals can have more access to organizational information and even share their attitudes with fewer constraints (She and Michelon, 2019;Fatma et al, 2020). The physical disconnect with the society caused by the coronavirus has further accelerated the use of social media by which people keep in touch with the outside (Lep et al, 2020;Hayes and Clerk, 2021;Puriwat and Tripopsakul, 2021). With regard to the ever-digitalized social life, the emerging social media afford companies more possibilities to promote their CSRdedicated activities, which, in turn, can help companies maximize their benefits from CSR engagement if used effectively (She and Michelon, 2019;Bialkova and Te Paske, 2020).…”

Investigating the Impacts of Information Overload on Psychological Well-being of Healthcare Professionals: Role of COVID-19 Stressor

“…Even though the temptation to exhibit fatalism is an individual characteristic, some situations will foster fatalistic thinking regardless of personal characteristics. 37 Fatalism may be especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media is the key influencer of fatalism, individuals usually seek health-related information on social media.…”

“… 54 Although the impact of fatalism on exhaustion has rarely been studied, previous research suggests a connection between fatalism and decreased well-being in individuals. 37 , 50 Fatalism, according to Roberts et al, 55 leads to increased pessimism, low self, and more passive coping in people. Likewise, fatalistic individuals planned more suicides, were more impulsive, and had more accepting mindsets toward suicide.…”

“…Silver et al (2013) found that acute stress is not a significant mediator between media exposure and physical health in longitudinal studies, while Holman et al (2019) discovered that panic of future terrorism was a significant mediator in the association between media usage and functional injury in longitudinal studies. Even though understudied, there is some indication that fatalism may mediate 37 , 38 the influences of CIO on social media on COVID-19 exhaustion.…”

An application of the extended parallel process model to protective behaviors against COVID-19 in South Korea

“…Fatalism is a reaction that can appear as a fear-control response [ 22 , 25 ]. Fatalism is the belief that an individual’s actions have no significant effects on important outcomes [ 26 , 27 ]; it is expressed in the form of predetermination, luck, and/or pessimism [ 28 ]. However, few studies have been conducted on fear control responses [ 22 ].…”