Perceived Epidemic Risk and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Security and the Moderation Role of Perceived Discrimination

Yunjun Hu, Lingling Shu, Huilin Zhang, Chen Wang, Chengfu Yu and Guanyu Cui
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Yunjun Hu: Department of Students’ Affairs, Wenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China
Lingling Shu: School of Education, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
Huilin Zhang: School of Education, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
Chen Wang: Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
Chengfu Yu: School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guanyu Cui: School of Education, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the incidence and prevalence of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, posing a threat to peoples’ lives and health safety all over the world. Research suggests some potential relationships among perceived risk, discrimination, security, and depression symptoms. However, little attention has been paid to the complex mechanisms of the associations between these variables. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of security and moderation role of perceived discrimination in the prediction of perceived epidemic risk on depression symptoms. Thus, we aimed to identify if perceived epidemic risk is a positive predictor of depression. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an anonymous online survey in China during the COVID-19 pandemic which measured perceived epidemic risk, discrimination, security, and depression symptoms. A total of 3443 valid questionnaires were obtained. The results indicated that depression symptoms were predicted by perceived epidemic risk through the mediating role of security, and this mediating role of security was moderated by perceived discrimination. Specifically, high levels of perceived discrimination may lead to a significant decrease in personal security, thus clustering depressive symptoms. These findings shed light on the influence of the perceived risk of the epidemic on depression symptoms in the context of the epidemic situation, which may help to develop targeted interventions.

Keywords: perceived epidemic risk; depression symptoms; security; perceived discrimination; mediated moderation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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