Examining the mediating role of e-health literacy in the relationship between COVID-19 awareness and dispositional hope and the experiences of those who survived the disease.

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of e-health literacy levels on the relationship between individuals' awareness of COVID-19 and dispositional hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted with a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected for the study online using Google Forms and qualitative data were collected online with an interview technique. In this framework, the qualitative data were obtained from a total of 15 people who had been diagnosed with COVID-19. These participants were selected using the snowball sampling method. A personal information form, e-Health Literacy Scale, Coronavirus Awareness Scale, Dispositional Hope Scale, and semistructured interview form were utilized in the course of the research. As a result of, it was determined that there were significant relationships between coronavirus awareness and both e-health literacy and dispositional hope, as well as between e-health literacy and dispositional hope. The measurement model was found to have good fit values. Testing the structural equation model, it was determined that e-health literacy had a full mediating role between coronavirus awareness and dispositional hope. In addition, this study showed that people who had COVID-19 had increased awareness of COVID-19 after contracting the disease.

The Effect of Psychological Inflexibility on Social-Distancing Phobia Mediated by Preoccupation With Sleep and Intolerance of Uncertainty in the Elderly Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore whether psychological inflexibility in the elderly population is related to social-distancing phobia, and examine whether their viral anxiety, preoccupation with sleep, or intolerance of uncertainty may mediate the relationship. METHODS: Among the elderly population aged ≥65 in Korea, we conducted an anonymous online survey during January and February 2023. We collected the responses of 300 participants, collected demographic information, and symptoms using rating scales such as the Social-Distancing Phobia scale, Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES). RESULTS: Social-distancing phobia was expected by the SAVE-6 (ß=0.34, p<0.001), IUS-12 (ß=0.18, p=0.003), and GSES (ß=0.18, p= 0.001) in the linear regression analysis. In the mediation analysis, psychological inflexibility did not directly influence social-distancing phobia. However, viral anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, or preoccupation with sleep completely mediated the influence of psychological inflexibility on social-distancing phobia among elderly population. CONCLUSION: The management of psychological inflexibility, intolerance of uncertainty, or preoccupation with sleep needs to be considered when designing interventions to address social-distancing phobia in elderly populations in future pandemics.

Reliability and validity of the problematic TikTok Use Scale among the general population.

Introduction: This study aims to provide a scale for measuring problematic TikTok use levels by adapting items from the Instagram Addiction Scale. Methods: The 372 participants were determined by a convenience sampling method, and data were collected through Google online forms. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed for construct validity and criterion-related validity analysis. Criterion-related validity for the Problematic TikTok Use Scale (PTTUS) was tested using correlation analysis between the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Social Media Use Disorder Scale. Results: EFA indicated that a three-factor structure should be formed. The first factor is the sub-dimension of obsession and consists of 4 items, the second factor is the escapism sub-dimension and consists of 6 items, and the third factor is the lack of control sub-dimension and consists of 6 items. The model fit for adapting the PTTUS into Turkish was examined with first-level CFA, χ2/sd, RMSEA, CFI, GFI, AGFI, and SRMR, the obtained values show that the three-factor structure of the scale provides acceptable fit. Reliability analyses showed that Cronbach's alpha internal consistency reliability coefficient ranged from 0.83 to 0.90; McDonald's Omega reliability values was 0.84 to 0.90, and test-retest correlation coefficient ranged from 0.68 to 0.73, indicating sufficient internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Conclusion: Based on this information, PTTUS is a measurement tool with sufficient psychometric properties that can be applied to determine individuals' levels of problematic TikTok use.

Development of Social Distancing Phobia Scale and Its Association with Anxiety and Perceived Stress.

The aim of the present study is to develop the social distancing phobia scale and is to determine the role of generalized anxiety disorder of the individual in predicting social distancing phobia and perceived stress. The sample of the study consists of 1260 people selected according to the convenience sampling method. Social distancing phobia scale, generalized anxiety disorder, perceived stress scale, and positive negative emotion scale were used in the study. As a result of the analysis, this scale consists of 17 items with three factors including "physiological, emotional, and behavioral response." With its psychometric properties in assessing the three-sub-dimensional construct of the social distancing phobia scale, this scale will help to provide a better understanding of the emotions and psychological or psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, generalized anxiety disorder was found to significantly predict perceived stress and social distancing phobia.

Positivity and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in COVID-19 Survivors: Mediating Role of Rumination and Fear of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic, which still continues to affect the whole world, has led to an increase in PTSD symptoms in societies, especially individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease and recovered are at significant risk for PTSD have been reported. Although it has been observed that PTSD symptoms of individuals who were infected in the past epidemics such as SARS and Ebola continued for a long time even after the epidemic, it is noteworthy that the studies conducted during the COVID-19 process do not focus enough on people who survived the COVID-19 disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the direct and indirect impact of positivity on PTSD symptoms of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and the role of rumination and fear of COVID-19 as potential mediators in this effect. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In the study, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Ruminative Response Scale, Positivity Scale, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale were applied to 551 Turkish participants, who survived the COVID-19 disease. SEM-based mediation analysis was used to test hypothesized relationships. RESULTS: Mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and rumination between positivity and PTSD were tested. Results indicated that rumination and fear of COVID-19 had a full mediating role in the relationship between positivity and PTSD. CONCLUSION: These findings pointed out that positivity might be an indirect protective disposition against COVID-19-related PTSD and might reduce risk factors associated with PTSD among COVID-19 survivors. Mental health practices for COVID-19 patients should aim to increase positive thinking, since they have ruminative thoughts about transmission of the virus and hospitalization process and these thoughts may lead to negative mental health conditions. In this sense, positive psychology-focused implementations can be organized for COVID-19 patients and survivors.

Intolerance of Uncertainty Mediates the Influence of Viral Anxiety on Social Distancing Phobia Among the General Korean Population During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examined the reliability and validity of Korean version of Social Distancing Phobia scale, and whether intolerance of uncertainty mediates the association of the general population's social distancing phobia with viral anxiety and depression. METHODS: Through this anonymous online survey, we collected responses from 400 individuals in the general Korean population. Participants' demographic information and rating scales scores, including the Social Distancing Phobia scale, Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Intolerance of Uncertainty-12 items. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit, and the Korean version of Social Distancing Phobia scale showed good internal consistency. Social distancing phobia was significantly correlated with age (r=0.213, p<0.001), viral anxiety (r=0.390, p<0.001), depression (r=0.244, p<0.001), and intolerance of uncertainty (r=0.323, p<0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that age (ß=0.235, p<0.001), viral anxiety (ß=0.281, p<0.001), depression (ß=0.121, p=0.009), and intolerance of uncertainty (ß=0.200, p<0.001; adjusted R2=0.246, F=33.6, p<0.001) predicted social distancing phobia. Mediation analysis revealed that viral anxiety directly influenced social distancing phobia (z=6.48, p<0.001), and intolerance of uncertainty partially mediated this association (z=2.92, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Social distancing phobia may cause psychological stress but may also increase adherence to physical distancing measures and prevent the spread of viruses.

Adaptation of the Social Distancing Scale in the Covid-19 Era: Its Association with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Resilience in Turkey.

This study has two main objectives. The first aim is to adapt the social distancing scale (SDS) into Turkish. The second aim is to test the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress on the relationship between social distance and psychological resilience. The sampling method of the study was revised as the snowball sampling. The study surveyed 843 people (481 female and 362 male) between the ages of 18 and 70 (average age 31.95) living in 51 different cities if Turkey. In the study, back-translation method was used to prepare the SDS-Turkish version. Confirmatory factor analysis results for the study showed that the single-dimension structure fits very well, as in the original form. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient for the scale was calculated as 0.70. In line with the second aim of the study, the data were tested using a structural equation model analysis. Research results showed that depression, anxiety, and stress have a full mediator role in the relationship between social distancing and resilience for Turkish residents. In other words, this study eliminates social distancing's predictability of resilience by the insertion of the mediatory variable of depression, anxiety, and stress into the structural equation model.