Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment
Fear of becoming infected is an important factor of the complex suite of emotional reactions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among healthcare workers (HWs), fear of infection can put at risk their psychological well-being and occupational efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the role...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4358 |
| _version_ | 1797516219351302144 |
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| author | Alfonso Troisi Roberta Croce Nanni Alessandra Riconi Valeria Carola David Di Cave |
| author_facet | Alfonso Troisi Roberta Croce Nanni Alessandra Riconi Valeria Carola David Di Cave |
| author_sort | Alfonso Troisi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fear of becoming infected is an important factor of the complex suite of emotional reactions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among healthcare workers (HWs), fear of infection can put at risk their psychological well-being and occupational efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of personality (i.e., the big five traits) and adult attachment in predicting levels of fear (as measured by the FCV-19S) in 101 HWs employed in a COVID-19 university hospital. The three significant predictors retained by the stepwise regression model were age (beta = 0.26, <i>t</i> = 2.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01), emotional stability (i.e., the inverse of neuroticism) (beta = −0.26, <i>t</i> = −2.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and fearful attachment (beta = 0.25, <i>t</i> = 2.75, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Older HWs with higher levels of neuroticism and fearful attachment reported more intense fear of COVID-19. Our results can be useful to identify vulnerable subgroups of HWs and to implement selective programs of prevention based on counseling and psychological support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:58:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa993f9ce34343e494687f8529112122 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:58:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa993f9ce34343e494687f85291121222023-11-22T16:18:15ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-09-011019435810.3390/jcm10194358Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful AttachmentAlfonso Troisi0Roberta Croce Nanni1Alessandra Riconi2Valeria Carola3David Di Cave4Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyStudi Medici Mazzini, Viale Angelico 39, 00195 Rome, ItalyPsychiatry Residency Program, Medical School, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00143 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyFear of becoming infected is an important factor of the complex suite of emotional reactions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among healthcare workers (HWs), fear of infection can put at risk their psychological well-being and occupational efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of personality (i.e., the big five traits) and adult attachment in predicting levels of fear (as measured by the FCV-19S) in 101 HWs employed in a COVID-19 university hospital. The three significant predictors retained by the stepwise regression model were age (beta = 0.26, <i>t</i> = 2.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01), emotional stability (i.e., the inverse of neuroticism) (beta = −0.26, <i>t</i> = −2.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and fearful attachment (beta = 0.25, <i>t</i> = 2.75, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Older HWs with higher levels of neuroticism and fearful attachment reported more intense fear of COVID-19. Our results can be useful to identify vulnerable subgroups of HWs and to implement selective programs of prevention based on counseling and psychological support.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4358COVID-19fearhealthcare workersneuroticisminsecure attachment |
| spellingShingle | Alfonso Troisi Roberta Croce Nanni Alessandra Riconi Valeria Carola David Di Cave Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment Journal of Clinical Medicine COVID-19 fear healthcare workers neuroticism insecure attachment |
| title | Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment |
| title_full | Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment |
| title_fullStr | Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment |
| title_short | Fear of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Neuroticism and Fearful Attachment |
| title_sort | fear of covid 19 among healthcare workers the role of neuroticism and fearful attachment |
| topic | COVID-19 fear healthcare workers neuroticism insecure attachment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4358 |
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