WHY DO PEOPLE HIGH IN COVID-19 WORRY HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS? THE ROLES OF RESILIENCE AND MEANING IN LIFE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The existing literature has not adequately studied the influence of COVID-19 worry on mental health disorders. This study tested the mediating roles of resilience and meaning in life between COVID-19 worry and mental health disorders. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We recruited 284 Arabic speaking young adults (60.6% females; mean age = 26.25±7.57 years) to complete the COVID-19 Worry Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Meaning in Life Measure, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: Results showed that COVID-19 worry negatively predicted resilience and meaning in life and positively predicted mental health disorders. Furthermore, indirect effect of COVID-19 worry on mental health disorders via resilience and meaning in life was significant. CONCLUSION: These results will contribute to find effective measures to prevent mental health disorders and promote reduced mental health disorders from the perspective of mitigating COVID-19 worry and increasing resilience and meaning in life.