Fear of COVID-19 and future orientation: Different profiles in dealing with the pandemic and associations with loneliness and posttraumatic growth.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the profiles of reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic based on the combination of fear and future orientation, as well as their sociodemographic, situational, and relational predictors. We also compared posttraumatic growth between the profiles. Method: A sample of 640 Italian participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of COVID-19-Related Fears (MAC-RF), the Future Orientation Scale (FOS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale–Version 3, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results: Latent profile analysis indicated a 4-class solution as the best-fitting model. The first profile (“Detached”) comprised 9.9% of the sample and was characterized by both low fear and future orientation. The second profile (“Hopeful”) concerned 49.9% of the sample and it featured low fear and high future orientation. The third profile (“Constructively Preoccupied”) involved 35.5% of the sample and was distinguished by high fear and high future orientation. The fourth profile (“Fearful”) included 4.6% of the sample and was marked by high fear and low future orientation. Multinomial logistic regressions indicated that the female gender was more likely to be associated with the Constructively Preoccupied profile, while older age was more likely to be associated with the Hopeful one. Higher perceived loneliness was associated with all profiles except the Hopeful. Results of comparisons showed substantial differences in posttraumatic growth between the profiles. The Constructively Preoccupied profile showed the greatest posttraumatic growth. Conclusions: Overall, these results point out the various profile of reaction to the pandemic and that adopting a person-oriented approach could enhance their grasp.

I was, I am, I will be: Identity and time perspective before and duringCOVID‐19

“…Finally, emerging adults in 2021 (both students and workers) reported a higher future orientation than their peers in 2017. This finding is in line with prior research showing high future orientation among adults dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic (Lenzo et al, 2022), which in turn appears to foster resilience and protect against negative adjustment (Lalot et al, 2021;Skinner et al, 2022).…”

Prolonged Grief Disorder and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression among Bereaved Family Caregivers in the Context of Palliative Home Care

“…However, the interpretation of this finding should be interpreted with caution, as both samples consisted primarily of women. Furthermore, this finding may also be related to the adopted variable-oriented research approach [40].…”

Psychological factors and prosociality as determinants in grief reactions: Proposals for an integrative perspective in palliative care

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the relevance of prosocial behavior. Findings of several studies have hitherto well-established the impact of the pandemic on mental health among people (Lenzo et al, 2022c , d ), even though protective factors such as resilience contribute to lower it (Lenzo et al, 2020 ). The COVID-19 pandemic also offers an unprecedented opportunity to grasp the mechanisms underneath prosociality and loss.…”