Perceived Impact of Quarantine on Loneliness, Death Obsession, and Preoccupation With God: Predictors of Increased Fear of COVID-19

Abstract

Most countries are facing the societal challenging need for a new quarantine period due to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections, indicating a second or even third wave of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the surface existential issues that are typically less present in people's focal attention. The first aim of this study was to identify some of these existential struggles such as increased feelings of loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God. Secondly, we explored the association of these factors with the increased fear of coronavirus during the quarantine. Data was collected from 1,340 Romanian adults using a cross-sectional web-based survey design in the midst of the national lockdown period of COVID-19. Participants completed measures of COVID-19 related loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God twice; first, thinking about the period before the pandemic, and second, for the current situation during the quarantine. Then, they completed a fear of COVID-19 measure. Participants perceived an increase in the feelings of loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God during the confinement. Furthermore, gender, knowing someone diagnosed with COVID-19, loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God predicted fear of COVID-19. Interestingly, days in isolation did not predict fear of COVID-19 nor were associated with feelings of loneliness. In line with existential positive psychology, these results highlight the importance of policies and interventions targeting the experience of loneliness, spiritual beliefs, and particularly those aimed to promote death acceptance, in order to alleviate intense fear of COVID-19.

Perception and Attitude of the General Population on the Risk of Infection with SARS-CoV-2

“…The data obtained indicates the discrepancy between certain measures imposed by the authorities and the desires of the population, a discrepancy that can lead to social ruptures and behavioral deviations, as suggested in Enea's study [12].…”

“…Women expressed a greater fear than men [9]. Another study showed that after an average isolation time of almost 37 days, the perceived levels of loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God significantly increased in the Romanian sample [12]. Also, when loneliness levels are high, age becomes a significant predictor of fear of COVID-19 because the elderly are more afraid than younger people when they feel lonely.…”

“…Previous studies performed on Romanian respondents revealed similar results. Enea et al showed that quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic had a stronger impact on women, single people, and those with death obsession [12].…”

A Predictive Model of Pandemic Disaster Fear Caused by Coronavirus (COVID-19): Implications for Decision-Makers

“…It was found that there was no boredom amongst physically active subjects, and they reported less fear of coronavirus disease [ 39 ]. In addition, predictors of fear included gender and the knowledge of the person diagnosed with coronavirus disease, while days spent in isolation were not a predictor of fear of the coronavirus disease, nor were they associated with feelings of loneliness [ 44 ]. Higher levels of depression, general anxiety, and insomnia were found in nurses compared with medical assistants and physicians, while physicians and health workers in COVID units showed greater coping skills.…”

“…A study conducted in Romania, which included 1340 adult respondents during the pandemic itself, confirmed the existential issues raised by the coronavirus disease pandemic. It identified an increase in feelings of loneliness, obsession with death, and preoccupation with God during quarantine, which also predicted fear of the coronavirus [ 44 ].…”