Death Concerns, Benefit-Finding, and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reminders of death are particularly salient. Although much terror management theory research demonstrates that people engage in defensive tactics to manage mortality awareness, other work shows that existential concerns can motivate growth-oriented actions to improve health. The present study explored the associative link between coronavirus anxieties, fear of death, and participants' well-being. Results, using structural equation modeling, found that increased mortality concerns stemming from COVID-19 were associated with heightened benefit finding (e.g., relationship investment, gratefulness, patience) from the pandemic. Increased benefit finding, in turn, was related to higher life satisfaction, meaning in life, self-esteem, resilience, and vitality while also correlating negatively with depression and stress scores. There was no evidence for reverse mediation in that fear of mortality did not predict well-being through coronavirus worries. Overall, although many persons have experienced mental health concerns (e.g., fear, stress) as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings demonstrate positive benefits that paradoxically follow in terms of an increased appreciation of life, improved relationships, and better health.

The Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Green Purchase Behavior in Pakistan: A Multi-Group Analysis Between Infected and Non-infected

“…According to the literature, when the MS is high, consumers would reassess their purchase decisions and gravitate toward products that benefits them while also lessening their anxiety about death ( Rahimah and Khalil, 2018 ; Rahimah et al, 2020 ). The finding is aligning with the literature, as the MS was high during pandemic, consumers were searching for those products that would benefit them and the environment ( Cox et al, 2021 ). Similarly, the PD during the pandemic was high among public ( Daly and Robinson, 2021 ; Shakil et al, 2021 ), the high stress levels not only affect health but also decision making; consumers want to purchase products that benefit them psychologically, and buying green products reduces their stress level because of their benefits to the health and the environment ( Boobalan and Sulur, 2020 ; Boobalan et al, 2021 ).…”

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Sense of Gains and Losses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study

“…Retrospective and longitudinal studies conducted in 2021 demonstrated a gradual mild decrease in anxiety. An important role in impacting mental condition was played by the perception of gains (e.g., better knowledge of preventive measures reduced the severity of anxiety) and losses as a result of the pandemic (e.g., negative emotions were related to the loss of job or more frequent family conflicts) [ 43 , 69 ]. Decreased anxiety may be attributed to the phenomenon of habituation and becoming used to the situation, which was no longer new and unpredictable.…”

“…The respondents attached less importance to personal accomplishment and social status, as well as religion and enjoyment, and they admitted a growing need for a simple and balanced lifestyle and for contributing to their community. Findings by Cox et al [ 43 ], acquired in a study involving 451 students, showed a sense of growth in relationship investment, gratefulness, and patience.…”

Identifying Silver Linings During the Pandemic Through Natural Language Processing

“…Indeed, early research on resilience in the pandemic has found that benefitfinding is associated with reductions in psychological distress. A recent study by Cox et al found that increased benefit-finding was associated with not only greater life satisfaction, meaning, and vitality but also decreased reports of depression and stress (Cox et al, 2021).…”