Predictors of Mental Health after the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

The aim of the article is to determine the predictors of mental health among Polish society. Research was conducted after the first wave of the pandemic. Due to such an approach, it was possible to determine whether the secondary effects of the pandemic have impacted on mental health, in addition to socio-demographic and psychological factors. In order to gather the research material, the CAWI on-line survey method was applied and carried out within the framework of the Ariadna Research Panel on a sample of 1079 Poles, aged 15 and over. The FCV-19S scale, which is used to measure the fear of COVID-19 was applied in the measurement. It is a verified diagnostic instrument used to measure mental health across a range of countries. The results of a hierarchical regression analysis have shown that the factors which increase the level of fear of COVID-19 are demographic, social and psychological features, as well as attitudes towards the pandemic. The results of research indicate the significance of social context in the analysis, and contribute to the explanation of the effects of disasters and cataclysms.