Predictors of Threat from COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Spanish Population

Abstract

One of the first measures for fighting the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is social isolation or quarantine. The perceived threat from COVID-19 in this situation, maintained over time, generates uncertainty and fears, etc., which could lead to mental disorders in the population. This study evaluated the perceived threat from COVID-19 in the Spanish population. The study design was cross-sectional and observational. The sample of 1014 participants recruited in Spain had a mean age of 40.87 (SD = 12.42). The gender distribution was 67.2% (n = 681) women and 32.8% (n = 333) men. Data were collected with an online survey. The instrument used was the Perception of Threat from COVID-19 Questionnaire, validated for the Spanish population. Our data showed a clear correlation between perceived threat with female gender, having children in one’s care and level of education. However, no association was observed with age or marital status. Finally, we concluded that there is a greater perception of threat from COVID-19 by women with a lower education who have children in their care, and that they are also more sensitive to minor mental disorders, such as anxiety or stress, appearing.

Antivaccine Movement and COVID-19 Negationism: A Content Analysis of Spanish-Written Messages on Twitter

“…The group sharing conspiracy theories ranked third in terms of presence. This evidence supports the thesis that there are situations in which misinformation can lead to the development of conspiratorial thoughts and ideas [17,21,49]. Furthermore, it is so important to understand that antivaccination users offer a wide range of potentially attractive narratives that blend topics such as safety concerns, conspiracy theories, and the cause and cure of COVID-19, amongst others [35,36,46,47].…”

“…This is why these kinds of messages can be considered a public health threat [20]. In addition, we have to take into account so-called health anxiety disorder, as it is linked to a great amount of incorrect and ambiguous information to which people have access to [21,22]. This can generate abnormal behaviors both at individual and social levels, due to the loss of trust in health authorities, the blaming of people who belong to different ethnic, social, or political groups, and the development of conspiratorial thoughts [23].…”

The Moderating Role of Caregiving on Fear of COVID-19 and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

“…In this regard, we found increased levels of distress in caregivers when compared to non-caregiving population, which is consistent with previous studies [ 40 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Along with prior evidence, our findings also showed that higher levels of fear and PTSS symptomatology were associated with caregiving [ 17 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 53 ].…”

“…Fear is also associated with lower self-efficacy and insecure attachment, especially in the use of avoidance behaviors to manage anxiety and as preventive strategies [ 37 , 38 ]. Besides these factors, previous evidence also suggests a relationship between high levels of fear, the perceived risk for loved ones, and concerns about infecting family members, especially in those who have a caregiving role [ 17 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Modeling of Various Spatial Patterns of SARS-CoV-2: The Case of Germany

“…In addition, local services, having foreknowledge, could react locally, without the need to restrict large areas, which is of great importance for an economy heavily affected by the pandemic. They can designate the zones of the greatest threats, where the most intense actions should be taken, including, for example, imposing restrictions on social life, and as a result, reducing the impact on human health [48,49]. The knowledge about the structure of the system could allow making decisions appropriate to the situation, i.e., introducing restrictions only in a specific area.…”