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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:44:39Z |
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issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:44:39Z |
publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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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