Abstract
Introduction: This longitudinal study aims to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19, support-seeking behaviors, and perceived social support among Chinese college students during two distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic: the period of strict control (time 1) and the period following a relaxation of restrictions (time 2). Methods: A total of 408 Chinese college students participated in this study. Data collection included demographic information, measures of fear of COVID-19, support-seeking behaviors, and perceived social support. Results: Fear of COVID-19 at time 1 showed a significant positive association with fear of COVID-19 at time 2. The relationship between support-seeking behavior at time 1 and fear of COVID-19 at time 2 was significantly mediated through a chain mediation effect of support-seeking behavior at time 1 and perceived social support at time 2. Discussion: This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the significance of social support in mitigating fear of COVID-19. It calls for a re-evaluation of public health policies considering their potential psychological effects and introduces new opportunities for developing psychosocial interventions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4685-4696 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| Volume | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 2023 |
Scopus Subject Areas
- General Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
User-Defined Keywords
- Chinese students
- COVID-19 policy
- fear of COVID-19
- longitudinal study
- social support
