Viral Anxiety, Reassurance-Seeking Behavior, and Depression Mediate the Influence of Dysfunctional Self-Focus on Preoccupation With COVID-19 Among Infected Cases.
{"title":"Viral Anxiety, Reassurance-Seeking Behavior, and Depression Mediate the Influence of Dysfunctional Self-Focus on Preoccupation With COVID-19 Among Infected Cases.","authors":"Byeongha Yoon, Jihoon Hong, Seockhoon Chung","doi":"10.30773/pi.2024.0097","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the pervasive threat of infection has heightened public and individual health concerns. In the context of instability, although the dysfunctional aspect of self-focus was prominent, preoccupation with viral infection was greater. This study explored the applicability of a cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis to individuals infected with COVID-19 and assessed whether dysfunctional self-focus were associated with the development of preoccupation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An anonymous online survey was conducted via a professional survey platform in December 2022. Participants' clinical characteristics and responses to rating scales were collected, including Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS), Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemic-6 items (SAVE-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 items (PHQ-2), and Dysfunctional Self-focus Attributes Scale (DSAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 265 participants, preoccupation with COVID-19 was predicted using CRBS (β=0.60, p<0.001), SAVE-6 (β=0.20, p=0.007), and PHQ-2 (β=0.13, p<0.001) scores. Mediation analysis revealed that viral anxiety influenced this COVID-19 preoccupation, with the relationship mediated by coronavirus reassurance-seeking behavior. Another analysis indicated that dysfunctional self-focus had a significant total effect on preoccupation with COVID-19. However, its direct impact was statistically insignificant, with the association primarily influenced by three mediating factors: viral anxiety, depression, and reassurance-seeking behavior.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Preoccupation with coronavirus is influenced by viral anxiety, depression, and reassurance-seeking behavior. Two mediation analyses showed that the application of the cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis is feasible among COVID-19-infected cases and the association of dysfunctional self-focus with mediating factors. This finding highlights the need for personalized psychological support in managing COVID-19 cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":21164,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Investigation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11321867/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychiatry Investigation","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0097","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/8/2 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the pervasive threat of infection has heightened public and individual health concerns. In the context of instability, although the dysfunctional aspect of self-focus was prominent, preoccupation with viral infection was greater. This study explored the applicability of a cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis to individuals infected with COVID-19 and assessed whether dysfunctional self-focus were associated with the development of preoccupation.
Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted via a professional survey platform in December 2022. Participants' clinical characteristics and responses to rating scales were collected, including Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS), Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemic-6 items (SAVE-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 items (PHQ-2), and Dysfunctional Self-focus Attributes Scale (DSAS).
Results: Among the 265 participants, preoccupation with COVID-19 was predicted using CRBS (β=0.60, p<0.001), SAVE-6 (β=0.20, p=0.007), and PHQ-2 (β=0.13, p<0.001) scores. Mediation analysis revealed that viral anxiety influenced this COVID-19 preoccupation, with the relationship mediated by coronavirus reassurance-seeking behavior. Another analysis indicated that dysfunctional self-focus had a significant total effect on preoccupation with COVID-19. However, its direct impact was statistically insignificant, with the association primarily influenced by three mediating factors: viral anxiety, depression, and reassurance-seeking behavior.
Conclusion: Preoccupation with coronavirus is influenced by viral anxiety, depression, and reassurance-seeking behavior. Two mediation analyses showed that the application of the cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis is feasible among COVID-19-infected cases and the association of dysfunctional self-focus with mediating factors. This finding highlights the need for personalized psychological support in managing COVID-19 cases.
期刊介绍:
The Psychiatry Investigation is published on the 25th day of every month in English by the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA). The Journal covers the whole range of psychiatry and neuroscience. Both basic and clinical contributions are encouraged from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and management of neuropsychiatric disorders and symptoms, as well as researches related to cross cultural psychiatry and ethnic issues in psychiatry. The Journal publishes editorials, review articles, original articles, brief reports, viewpoints and correspondences. All research articles are peer reviewed. Contributions are accepted for publication on the condition that their substance has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Authors submitting papers to the Journal (serially or otherwise) with a common theme or using data derived from the same sample (or a subset thereof) must send details of all relevant previous publications and simultaneous submissions. The Journal is not responsible for statements made by contributors. Material in the Journal does not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or of the KNPA. Manuscripts accepted for publication are copy-edited to improve readability and to ensure conformity with house style.