Yao Y, Lin M, Ni J, Ni J. Hope Buffers the Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Depression among College Students: Insomnia as a Mediator.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023;
20:3245. [PMID:
36833940 PMCID:
PMC9966876 DOI:
10.3390/ijerph20043245]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
In the period of the global pandemic, psychophysical problems induced by the fear of COVID-19 among college students deserve attention since the dormitory environment in college greatly increases the possibility of COVID-19 infection.
METHODS
A hypothesized mediated moderation model was to be verified using a cross-sectional study among 2453 college students. Fear of COVID-19, insomnia, hope, and depression were assessed by using the relevant scales.
RESULTS
(1) The fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated to depression (β = 0.365, t = 5.553, 95% CI = [0.236, 0.494]); (2) hope moderated the influence of the fear of COVID-19 on depression (β = -0.093, t = -4.066, 95% CI = [-0.137, -0.048]), as well as on insomnia (β = -0.095, t = -4.841, 95% CI = [-0.133, -0.056]); and (3) the mediated moderation model with hope as the moderator and insomnia as the full mediating variable between fear of COVID-19 and depression was verified (β = -0.060, 95% CI = [-0.093, -0.028]).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that hope is a vital mechanism to explain the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and depression in early adulthood. In practical application, mental health practitioners should focus on boosting hope and alleviating insomnia when addressing COVID-19-related depression issues among college students.
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