Anxiety, Health Self-Perception, and Worry About the Resurgence of COVID-19 Predict Fear Reactions Among Genders in the Cuban Population

Abstract

The resurgence of COVID-19 could deepen the psychological impacts of the pandemic which poses new challenges for mental health professionals. Among the actions that should be prioritized is the monitoring of the groups that have shown greater psychological vulnerability during the first stage of the pandemic. The first aim of our study is to explore the fear reactions to COVID-19 between genders during the second wave of the outbreak in Cuba. Second, establish possible predictors of fear of COVID-19 in relation to gender. Specifically, we will evaluate how anxiety related to COVID-19, health self-perception, and worry about the resurgence of COVID-19 predict fear reactions among women and men in the Cuban population. A cross-sectional online study was designed. The research was conducted between August 16 and October 18, 2020. A total of 373 people completed the online survey. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were used. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the fear, worry, anxiety and self-perceived health scores, between genders. The relationship between those variables and fear of COVID-19, was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Finally, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the possible associations (predictors) related to fear of COVID-19. In our study, women, compared to men, presented greater fear reactions, greater concern about resurgence of COVID-19 and poorer self-perceived health. Anxiety reactions in our sample showed no differences between genders. In women, anxiety of COVID-19, worry about resurgence of COVID-19, and self-perceived health are associated with fear reactions to COVID-19. In the case of men, the self-perceived health showed no associations with fear reactions. Our results confirm the results of several related investigations during the first wave of the pandemic where women have shown greater psychological vulnerability compared to men. However, we cannot rule out that the real impact of the pandemic on mental health in men is much greater than that described by the studies conducted to date. Additional studies are needed on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on men.

Predictors of Persistence of Anxiety, Hyperarousal Stress, and Resilience During the COVID-19 Epidemic: A National Study in Iran

“…The lower prevalence of these symptoms among men may be attributed to what some authors have identified as men compensated differently compared with women such as the use of anger, aggressiveness, antisocial behavior, excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, and hostility (Watkins et al, 2013 ; Carvalho et al, 2016 ). Contrary to our findings, Broche-Pérez et al in Cuba showed that anxiety did not differ between genders (Broche-Pérez et al, 2021 ).…”

A Predictive Model of Pandemic Disaster Fear Caused by Coronavirus (COVID-19): Implications for Decision-Makers

“…Broche-Pérez et al [ 112 ] confirmed that gender was a significant predictor of coronavirus disease fear, and that being a woman predicted medium and high levels of fear from coronavirus disease. In addition to more pronounced fear, compared to men, women in the Cuban population reported greater concern about the reappearance of coronavirus disease and poorer self-esteem, which were related to fear reactions [ 113 ]. Among teachers, the overall prevalence of anxiety was 13.67%, while the highest was identified at 60 to 100 years in men, followed by women aged 50 to 60 years [ 91 ].…”

Prevalence and Factors of the Performed or Scheduled COVID-19 Vaccination in a Chinese Adult General Population in Hong Kong

“…The stronger concerns about side effects among females might have deterred some of them from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, a study found that females reported poorer self-perceived health than males during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 41 ]; they might, thus, feel less physically fit for COVID-19 vaccination. Future studies are still warranted to confirm and explain the implicative ‘global’ sex difference in COVID-19 vaccination.…”