The Effect of Fear of COVID-19 Infection and Anxiety on Loneliness: Moderated Mediation Effects of Gratitude

Objective This study was conducted to identify factors related loneliness during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and focused on how fear of COVID-19 infection affects conditional effect gratitude as a moderator in relationship among COVID-19, anxiety, loneliness.Methods For analysis this study, survey 1,500 individuals aged 19 69 years living three metropolitan areas South Korea. Questionnaires included sociodemographic data, psychological experience stress associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale–7, UCLA Loneliness Scale–3, Gratitude Questionnaire–6. An by applying SPSS PROCESS macro models 4 7.Results First, anxiety mediated between loneliness. Second, through moderated gratitude. The higher gratitude, more is buffered path lower indirect loneliness.Conclusion suggests that context pandemic, interventions for problems such can be carried out significant protective variable.