The Relationship Between Fear and Anxiety Among Chinese Uninfected Residents During the Pandemic: A Conditional Process Analysis

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the relationship between residents’ COVID-19 fear and anxiety, consider whether this relationship is mediated through obsessions and the moderating role of self-efficacy on this mediating pathway. METHODS: This study used an online questionnaire to obtain and assess fear, obsession, anxiety and self-efficacy in 1589 Chinese COVID-19 uninfected residents. A conditional process model was used to examine the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Higher levels of fear were positively associated with obsession and anxiety. In addition, obsession was positively associated with anxiety, while self-efficacy attenuated the effect of fear on obsession and further mitigated the indirect effect of fear on anxiety through obsession. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 outbreak, uninfected residents suffered varying degrees of psychological distress. COVID-19 fear may have an effect on anxiety in COVID survivors through obsession, and self-efficacy as a protective factor for individual mental health partially attenuates the effect of COVID-19 fear on obsession and the indirect effect of fear on anxiety.