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Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Liliana Cori

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Olivia Curzio

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Fulvio Adorni

    (Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, 20157 Milan, Italy)

  • Federica Prinelli

    (Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, 20157 Milan, Italy)

  • Marianna Noale

    (Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council, 35127 Padova, Italy)

  • Caterina Trevisan

    (Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council, 35127 Padova, Italy)

  • Loredana Fortunato

    (Epidemiology and Health Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Andrea Giacomelli

    (Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Bianchi

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
    Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine, National Research Council, 90148 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

The study analyzed the association of the fear of contagion for oneself and for family members (FMs) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with demographic and socioeconomic status (SES) and health factors. The study was performed within the EPICOVID19 web-based Italian survey, involving adults from April–June 2020. Out of 207,341 respondents, 95.9% completed the questionnaire (60% women with an average age of 47.3 vs. 48.9 years among men). The association between fear and demographic and SES characteristics, contacts with COVID-19 cases, nasopharyngeal swab, self-perceived health, flu vaccination, chronic diseases and specific symptoms was analyzed by logistic regression model; odds ratios adjusted for sex, age, education and occupation were calculated (aORs). Fear for FMs prevailed over fear for oneself and was higher among women than men. Fear for oneself decreased with higher levels of education and in those who perceived good health. Among those vaccinated for the flu, 40.8% responded they had feelings of fear for themselves vs. 34.2% of the not vaccinated. Fear increased when diseases were declared and it was higher when associated with symptoms such as chest pain, olfactory/taste disorders, heart palpitations (aORs > 1.5), lung or kidney diseases, hypertension, depression and/or anxiety. Trends in fear by region showed the highest percentage of positive responses in the southern regions. The knowledge gained from these results should be used to produce tailored messages and shared public health decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Liliana Cori & Olivia Curzio & Fulvio Adorni & Federica Prinelli & Marianna Noale & Caterina Trevisan & Loredana Fortunato & Andrea Giacomelli & Fabrizio Bianchi, 2021. "Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3248-:d:521384
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Bonny Yee-Man Wong & Tai-Hing Lam & Agnes Yuen-Kwan Lai & Man Ping Wang & Sai-Yin Ho, 2021. "Perceived Benefits and Harms of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Well-Being and Their Sociodemographic Disparities in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jian Yang & Jian Ming Luo & Rui Yao, 2022. "How Fear of COVID-19 Affects the Behavioral Intention of Festival Participants—A Case of the HANFU Festival," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Hye-Ryoung Kim & Hwa-Mi Yang, 2022. "COVID-19 Fear, Health Behaviors, and Subjective Health Status of Call Center Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-9, July.
    4. Gijung Jung & Ji Sun Ha & Mihyeon Seong & Ji Hyeun Song, 2023. "The Effects of Depression and Fear in Dual-Income Parents on Work-Family Conflict During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.
    5. Ana María Recio-Vivas & Isabel Font-Jiménez & José Miguel Mansilla-Domínguez & Angel Belzunegui-Eraso & David Díaz-Pérez & Laura Lorenzo-Allegue & David Peña-Otero, 2022. "Fear and Attitude towards SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection in Spanish Population during the Period of Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Ana María Recio-Vivas & José Miguel Mansilla-Domíngez & Ángel Belzunegui-Eraso & David Peña-Otero & David Díaz-Pérez & Laura Lorenzo-Allegue & Isabel Font-Jiménez, 2022. "Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures in the Spanish Population during the New Normal: Will the Need for Greater Community Involvement Be One of the Lessons Learned?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    7. Stefania Pascut & Susanna Feruglio & Cristiano Crescentini & Alessio Matiz, 2022. "Predictive Factors of Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling and Institutionalized Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    8. Oscar Lecuona & Chung-Ying Lin & Dmitri Rozgonjuk & Tone M. Norekvål & Marjolein M. Iversen & Mohammed A. Mamun & Mark D. Griffiths & Ting-I Lin & Amir H. Pakpour, 2022. "A Network Analysis of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S): A Large-Scale Cross-Cultural Study in Iran, Bangladesh, and Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.

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