Can Fear of COVID-19 Be Predicted by Religiosity and Trust in Institutions among Young Adults? A Prospective Cross-National Study

Dominika Ochnik, Aleksandra M. Rogowska, Ana Arzenšek and Joy Benatov
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Dominika Ochnik: Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
Aleksandra M. Rogowska: Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland
Ana Arzenšek: Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, 6101 Koper, Slovenia
Joy Benatov: Department of Special Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of this study was to reveal whether religiosity and trust in institutions are longitudinal predictors of change in fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19) across Poland, Germany, Slovenia, and Israel among young adults over a three-month period. The representative sample consisted of 1723 participants between the ages of 20 and 40 years ( M = 30.74, SD = 5.74) across Poland ( n = 446), Germany ( n = 418), Slovenia ( n = 431), and Israel ( n = 428). The first measurement was carried out in February 2020 and the second was conducted in May/June 2020. A repeated-measures, two-way, mixed-factor ANOVA was performed to examine changes over time (T) and across countries (C) as well as the interaction of time and country (TxC) for FCV-19, religiosity, and trust in institutions. The results showed a significant decrease over time and differences between countries in all variables, as well as in TxC for FCV-19 and trust in institutions. Linear generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the longitudinal change between T1 and T2 in FCV-19, including religiosity and trust in institutions as predictors, country as a factor, and gender and age as confounders. Female gender, religiosity, and trust in institutions were found to be significant longitudinal predictors of change in FCV-19. Country was a significant moderator of the relationship between trust in institutions and FCV-19, with the highest result achieved in Poland. Religiosity and trust in institutions were positive predictors of change in fear of COVID-19 among young adults across countries. Religious and governmental institutions should take this into consideration when communicating with believers and citizens during challenging situations.

Keywords: fear of COVID-19; religiosity; trust in institutions; young adults; a longitudinal study design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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