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. 2020 Sep 18:11:580053.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.580053. eCollection 2020.

Risk Perceptions and Psychological Effects During the Italian COVID-19 Emergency

Tiziana Lanciano  1 , Giusi Graziano  2 , Antonietta Curci  1 , Silvia Costadura  1 , Alessia Monaco  1
Affiliations

Risk Perceptions and Psychological Effects During the Italian COVID-19 Emergency

Tiziana Lanciano et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

The current study provides data about the immediate risk perceptions and psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among Italian participants. A sample of 980 volunteers answered a web-based survey which aimed to investigate the many facets of risk perceptions connected to COVID-19 (health, work, institutional-economy, interpersonal and psychological), and risk-related variables such as perceived knowledge, news seeking, perceived control, perceived efficacy of containment measures, and affective states. Socio-demographic characteristics were also collected. Results showed that although levels of general concern are relatively high among Italians, risk perceptions are highest with regards to the institutional-economy and work, and lowest concerning health. COVID-19 has been also estimated to be the least likely cause of death. Cognitive and affective risk-related variables contributed to explain the several risk perception domains differently. COVID-19 perceived knowledge did not affect any risk perception while the perceived control decreased health risk likelihood. The other risk-related variables amplified risk perceptions: News seeking increased work and institutional-economy risk; perceived efficacy of containment measures increased almost all perceived risks; negative affective states of fear, anger and sadness increased health risk; anxiety increased health, interpersonal and psychological risks, and uncertainty increased work, institutional-economy, interpersonal and psychological risk perceptions. Finally, positive affective states increased health risk perception. Socio-psychological implications are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; distress; psychological effects; risk perception; risk-related variables.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Repeated-measures ANOVA on risk perceptions.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Repeated-measures ANOVA on mortality risk.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
LMG measures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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