Influence of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Preoccupation With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among Frontline Nursing Professionals: Mediating Role of Reassurance-Seeking Behavior and Adherence to Physical Distancing.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between preoccupation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and adherence to physical distancing among frontline nursing professionals working in COVID-19 inpatient wards. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether the commitment to physical distancing mediates the influence of intolerance of uncertainty on viral anxiety. METHODS: Frontline healthcare professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatient wards at three tertiary-level affiliated hospitals in Korea were surveyed between April 7 and 26, 2022. The survey included scales-such as the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale, Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 and a questionnaire on adherence to physical distancing. A total of 256 responses were analyzed after excluding inappropriate or incomplete responses. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analysis found that age was significantly associated with the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (r = -0.12, P < 0.05) and adherence to physical distancing (r = 0.27, P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis ascertained that age (ß = -0.07, P = 0.002), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (ß = 0.35, P < 0.001), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (ß = 0.24, P < 0.001) were predictors of obsession with COVID-19 (Adjusted R² = 0.60, F = 78.1, P < 0.001). The indirect pathway by mediation analysis showed that reassurance-seeking and viral anxiety mediated the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the preoccupation with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: During the pandemic, there may be a strong association between reassurance-seeking behavior, viral anxiety, and a heightened preoccupation with COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers. Thus, from the early stages of infectious disease, a psychological support team for medical staff responding to the disease should be established, and periodic evaluations should be conducted to identify high-risk groups.

When COVID-19 strikes mental health: a measurement analysis of reassurance seeking behavior scale in Peruvian population.

Background: The long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. To combat its dire consequences, some screening measures have been hastily developed and require robust verification to explore their adequacy across different groups. The present research study aimed to analyze measurement invariance by sociodemographic characteristics of the Coronavirus Reassurance Seeking Behavior Scale (CRSB) in Peruvian adults. Methods: A total of 661 participants completed The Coronavirus Reassurance Seeking Behavior Scale (CRSB), the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and sociodemographic information a subgroup filled in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Reliability and measurement invariance across sociodemographic characteristics were analyzed. Likewise, associations with depression and dysfunctional coronavirus anxiety were examined. Results: Results showed that the single factor structure of the CRSB with correlated errors fitted the data adequately and the instrument was invariant across gender, age, and loss of a significant relative to COVID-19. In addition, significant associations with depressive symptoms and dysfunctional anxiety were found. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that the Coronavirus Reassurance Seeking Behaviors Scale is invariant across different sociodemographic characteristics.

The Mediating Effect of Reassurance-Seeking Behavior on the Influence of Viral Anxiety and Depression on COVID-19 Obsession Among Medical Students.

Objectives: Healthcare workers experienced great psychological burden due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, medical healthcare workers experienced greater instances of insomnia, anxiety, depression, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms than the general population. This study aimed to explore the association between viral anxiety and obsession with COVID-19 among medical students with reassurance-seeking behavior as a mediator. Methods: In October 2021, an online survey was conducted among medical students at the University of Ulsan College of Medicine. The clinical characteristics of 162 participants and their responses to rating scales, including stress and anxiety to viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), and Obsession with COVID-19 scale were collected. Results: Medical students' obsession with COVID-19 was based on the PHQ-9 (ß = 0.15, p = 0.01), SAVE-6 (ß = 0.43, p < 0.001), and CRBS (ß = 0.38, p < 0.001) scores (adjusted R2 = 0.49, F = 39.9, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that medical students' viral anxiety and depression directly influenced their obsession with COVID-19, and their reassurance-seeking behavior partially mediated the effects of depression or viral anxiety on obsession with COVID-19. Conclusions: Medical students' viral anxiety and depression may affect their obsession with COVID-19, and reassurance-seeking behaviors may mediate this. Therefore, medical students should adopt adaptive coping strategies to prevent high levels of viral anxiety and recurrent reassurance-seeking behavior.