The Fear of COVID-19 and Flourishing: Assessing the Mediating Role of Sense of Control in International Students

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Elemo A. S., Ahmed A. H., Kara E., Zerkeshi M. K.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION, vol.20, no.4, pp.2408-2418, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 20 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11469-021-00522-1
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.2408-2418
  • Keywords: Fear of COVID-19, Sense of control, Flourishing, International students, Turkey, ADJUSTMENT, HEALTH
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The present study investigates the mediating role of sense of control in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and flourishing. A cross-sectional study design was employed and a total of 368 international students studying in Turkey consented to voluntarily take part in the study. The participants who were identified using convenience sampling completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Flourishing Scale, and Sense of Control Scale after providing written informed consent. Results indicated that sense of control was positively correlated with fear of COVID-19 and flourishing. It was also observed that a negative correlation was found between the fear of COVID-19 and flourishing. Mediation analysis revealed that sense of control partially mediates the association between fear of COVID-19 and flourishing. The study encourages mental health professionals to consider the role of sense of control in their psychological interventions to reduce fear of COVID-19 and enhance flourishing among international students.