The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes

Italy was quickly hit hard by the coronavirus. ‘Lockdown’ has significantly impacted the psychological health, personal wellbeing and quality of life of the people. The study aims to explore the relationship between positive and negative affect, as well as positive (spiritual well-being and flourish...

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Main Authors: Andrea Zammitti, Chiara Imbrogliera, Angela Russo, Rita Zarbo, Paola Magnano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/3/50
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author Andrea Zammitti
Chiara Imbrogliera
Angela Russo
Rita Zarbo
Paola Magnano
author_facet Andrea Zammitti
Chiara Imbrogliera
Angela Russo
Rita Zarbo
Paola Magnano
author_sort Andrea Zammitti
collection DOAJ
description Italy was quickly hit hard by the coronavirus. ‘Lockdown’ has significantly impacted the psychological health, personal wellbeing and quality of life of the people. The study aims to explore the relationship between positive and negative affect, as well as positive (spiritual well-being and flourishing) and negative outcomes (psychological distress caused by a traumatic life event in terms of perception of PTSD symptoms) on Italian adults during the lockdown period. Data was collected between April and May 2020. The participants were 281 Italian adults aged between 18 and 73 years. The survey was composed of the following measures: Flourishing Scale, Jarel Spiritual Well-Being scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Fear of COVID-19. The mediational analysis shows that fear of COVID-19 fully mediates the relationship between negative affect and spiritual well-being and flourishing; fear of COVID-19 partially mediates the relationship between negative affect and PTSD symptoms; the positive affect shows only direct effects on positive outcomes. Therefore, fear of COVID-19 does not play any mediation role. Implications for psychological interventions and future research will be discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-a1cd895d9f80457697aff89bd938baa22023-11-22T12:46:11ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252021-07-0111369771010.3390/ejihpe11030050The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative OutcomesAndrea Zammitti0Chiara Imbrogliera1Angela Russo2Rita Zarbo3Paola Magnano4Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, ItalyFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, ItalyFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, ItalyFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, ItalyFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, ItalyItaly was quickly hit hard by the coronavirus. ‘Lockdown’ has significantly impacted the psychological health, personal wellbeing and quality of life of the people. The study aims to explore the relationship between positive and negative affect, as well as positive (spiritual well-being and flourishing) and negative outcomes (psychological distress caused by a traumatic life event in terms of perception of PTSD symptoms) on Italian adults during the lockdown period. Data was collected between April and May 2020. The participants were 281 Italian adults aged between 18 and 73 years. The survey was composed of the following measures: Flourishing Scale, Jarel Spiritual Well-Being scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Fear of COVID-19. The mediational analysis shows that fear of COVID-19 fully mediates the relationship between negative affect and spiritual well-being and flourishing; fear of COVID-19 partially mediates the relationship between negative affect and PTSD symptoms; the positive affect shows only direct effects on positive outcomes. Therefore, fear of COVID-19 does not play any mediation role. Implications for psychological interventions and future research will be discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/3/50COVID-19positive affectnegative affectspiritual well-beingflourishingperception of PTSD symptoms
spellingShingle Andrea Zammitti
Chiara Imbrogliera
Angela Russo
Rita Zarbo
Paola Magnano
The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
COVID-19
positive affect
negative affect
spiritual well-being
flourishing
perception of PTSD symptoms
title The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
title_full The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
title_fullStr The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
title_full_unstemmed The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
title_short The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes
title_sort psychological impact of coronavirus pandemic restrictions in italy the mediating role of the fear of covid 19 in the relationship between positive and negative affect with positive and negative outcomes
topic COVID-19
positive affect
negative affect
spiritual well-being
flourishing
perception of PTSD symptoms
url https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/3/50
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