Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model
Introduction: Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ceased globally, individuals may still suffer from various psychological burdens in the post-COVID-19 era. The present observational cross-sectional study investigated how fear of COVID-19 can affect mental health through me...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174385 |
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| author | Jiajia Ye Po-Ching Huang Emma Sethina Adjaottor Frimpong-Manso Addo Mark D. Griffiths Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu Chung-Ying Lin |
| author_facet | Jiajia Ye Po-Ching Huang Emma Sethina Adjaottor Frimpong-Manso Addo Mark D. Griffiths Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu Chung-Ying Lin |
| author_sort | Jiajia Ye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ceased globally, individuals may still suffer from various psychological burdens in the post-COVID-19 era. The present observational cross-sectional study investigated how fear of COVID-19 can affect mental health through mediators including stress, perceived stigma, and preventive behaviors among young adults in Ghana. Methods: A total of 635 participants aged between 18 and 29 years (mean age = 20.2 years [SD = 2.04]) were recruited to complete measures of COVID-19 fear, stress, perceived stigma, preventive behaviors, and mental health status from June to August 2022. Results: Results from structural equation modeling found that (i) fear of COVID-19 was associated with stress and perceived stigma (standardized coefficients [βs] = 0.518 and 0.148, p-values < 0.001), (ii) stress and perceived stigma were associated with frequency of preventive behaviors (β = 0.173, p < 0.001 for stress; −0.100, p < 0.05 for perceived stigma), and (iii) preventive behaviors were associated with mental health status (β = 0.118, p < 0.01). Stress and preventive behavior (β = 0.009, 95%CI: 0.000, 0.003) and perceived stigma and preventive behavior (β = −0.007, 95%CI: −0.283, −0.020) were significant mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and mental health. Discussion: The findings suggest that fear of COVID-19 may affect mental health through multiple pathways. Health professionals should provide comprehensive mental health interventions that address various influences regarding fear of COVID-19. Further research that examines the relationships between COVID-19-related variables and various health conditions is needed in the post-COVID-19 era to help develop different preventive and therapy measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98939d051de040ddba5c40de97840cad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-98939d051de040ddba5c40de97840cad2025-01-17T04:51:11ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41407Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation modelJiajia Ye0Po-Ching Huang1Emma Sethina Adjaottor2Frimpong-Manso Addo3Mark D. Griffiths4Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu5Chung-Ying Lin6Department of Rehabilitation Assessments, Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hua 1st Rd., Taoyuan, 333323, TaiwanDepartment of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Corresponding author.Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaInternational Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare St, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, United KingdomDepartment of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T, Hong Kong; Corresponding author.Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Rd., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan; Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Rd., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Rd., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Rd., Tainan, 701401, TaiwanIntroduction: Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ceased globally, individuals may still suffer from various psychological burdens in the post-COVID-19 era. The present observational cross-sectional study investigated how fear of COVID-19 can affect mental health through mediators including stress, perceived stigma, and preventive behaviors among young adults in Ghana. Methods: A total of 635 participants aged between 18 and 29 years (mean age = 20.2 years [SD = 2.04]) were recruited to complete measures of COVID-19 fear, stress, perceived stigma, preventive behaviors, and mental health status from June to August 2022. Results: Results from structural equation modeling found that (i) fear of COVID-19 was associated with stress and perceived stigma (standardized coefficients [βs] = 0.518 and 0.148, p-values < 0.001), (ii) stress and perceived stigma were associated with frequency of preventive behaviors (β = 0.173, p < 0.001 for stress; −0.100, p < 0.05 for perceived stigma), and (iii) preventive behaviors were associated with mental health status (β = 0.118, p < 0.01). Stress and preventive behavior (β = 0.009, 95%CI: 0.000, 0.003) and perceived stigma and preventive behavior (β = −0.007, 95%CI: −0.283, −0.020) were significant mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and mental health. Discussion: The findings suggest that fear of COVID-19 may affect mental health through multiple pathways. Health professionals should provide comprehensive mental health interventions that address various influences regarding fear of COVID-19. Further research that examines the relationships between COVID-19-related variables and various health conditions is needed in the post-COVID-19 era to help develop different preventive and therapy measures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174385Post-COVID-19 erafear of COVID-19StressStigmaPreventive behaviorMental health |
| spellingShingle | Jiajia Ye Po-Ching Huang Emma Sethina Adjaottor Frimpong-Manso Addo Mark D. Griffiths Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu Chung-Ying Lin Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model Heliyon Post-COVID-19 era fear of COVID-19 Stress Stigma Preventive behavior Mental health |
| title | Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model |
| title_full | Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model |
| title_fullStr | Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model |
| title_short | Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model |
| title_sort | associations between fear of covid 19 and mental health in ghana a sequential mediation model |
| topic | Post-COVID-19 era fear of COVID-19 Stress Stigma Preventive behavior Mental health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174385 |
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