Mediated Pathways from Death Anxiety and Fear of COVID-19 to Adjustment Disorder via Social Support and Resilience

Azizi Ganjehei, Fatemeh; Rahimian-Boogar, Isaac

doi:10.30473/ijohp.2026.75766.1424

Document Type : research

Authors

¹ MSc in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

² Associate professor in Health Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30473/ijohp.2026.75766.1424

Abstract

Objective: Death anxiety and fear of infection are crucial psychological factors influencing adjustment disorders during infectious disease outbreaks. Conversely, perceived social support and psychological resilience function as protective buffers. This study investigated how death anxiety and fear of COVID-19 predict adjustment disorder, with perceived social support and psychological resilience as potential mediators.
Method: Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, 400 adults were recruited through convenience sampling in Tehran, Iran. Participants completed the International Adjustment Disorder Questionnaire, Death Anxiety Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (SPSS v26) and structural equation modeling (AMOS v26).
Results: Fear of COVID-19 showed a significant positive association with adjustment disorder (β = 0.18, p = 0.012), while perceived social support (β = –0.25, p < 0.001) and psychological resilience (β = –0.24, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with adjustment disorder. Psychological resilience partially mediated the link between fear of COVID-19 and adjustment disorder (indirect β = 0.07, p = 0.016). Death anxiety was not a significant predictor of adjustment disorder (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings emphasize that fear of COVID-19, resilience, and perceived social support play distinct and interrelated roles in predicting adjustment disorder. Interventions aimed at strengthening resilience and social support may mitigate the psychological impact of pandemic-related stressors. Further research is recommended to refine these pathways and inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Psychological aspects in health and diseases

Article Title [Persian]

مسیرهای واسطه‌ای از اضطراب مرگ و ترس از کووید-۱۹ به اختلال سازگاری از طریق حمایت اجتماعی و تاب‌آوری

Authors [Persian]

فاطمه عزیزی گنجه ای ¹
اسحق رحیمیان بوگر ²

¹ دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد روان شناسی بالینی، گروه روانشناسی بالینی، دانشکده روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه سمنان، سمنان، ایران.

² دانشیار روانشناسی سلامت، گروه روانشناسی بالینی، دانشکده روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه سمنان، سمنان، ایران.

Abstract [Persian]

هدف: اضطراب مرگ و ترس از ابتلا از جمله عوامل روان‌شناختی مهمی هستند که در دوره‌های شیوع بیماری‌های واگیردار بر اختلال سازگاری تأثیر می‌گذارند. در مقابل، حمایت اجتماعی ادراک‌شده و تاب‌آوری روان‌شناختی به‌عنوان عوامل محافظتی عمل می‌کنند. این پژوهش به بررسی نقش پیش‌بینی‌کننده اضطراب مرگ و ترس از کووید-19 در بروز اختلال سازگاری با تمرکز بر نقش‌های میانجی حمایت اجتماعی ادراک‌شده و تاب‌آوری روان‌شناختی پرداخته است.
روش: این مطالعه به روش توصیفی‌مقطعی انجام شد و ۴۰۰ فرد بزرگسال از شهر تهران به‌صورت نمونه‌گیری در دسترس انتخاب شدند. شرکت‌کنندگان به پرسشنامه بین‌المللی اختلال سازگاری، مقیاس اضطراب مرگ، مقیاس ترس از کووید-19، مقیاس چندبعدی حمایت اجتماعی ادراک‌شده، و مقیاس تاب‌آوری کانر–دیویدسون پاسخ دادند. داده‌ها با استفاده از آمار توصیفی (نرم‌افزار SPSS نسخه ۲۶) و مدل‌یابی معادلات ساختاری (نرم‌افزار AMOS نسخه ۲۶) تحلیل شدند.
یافته‌ها: ترس از کووید-19 با اختلال سازگاری رابطه مثبت و معناداری داشت (18/0=β ، 012/0=P)، حمایت اجتماعی ادراک‌شده (25/0-=β ، 001/0>P) و تاب‌آوری روان‌شناختی (24/0-=β ، 001/0>P) با اختلال سازگاری رابطه منفی و معنادار نشان دادند. همچنین، تاب‌آوری روان‌شناختی به‌طور جزئی رابطه بین ترس از کووید-19 و اختلال سازگاری را میانجی‌گری کرد (07/0=β غیرمستقیم، 016/0=P). اضطراب مرگ پیش‌بینی‌کننده معناداری برای اختلال سازگاری نبود (05/0<P).
نتیجه‌گیری: یافته‌ها بر نقش ترس از کووید-19، تاب‌آوری و حمایت اجتماعی ادراک‌شده در پیش‌بینی اختلال سازگاری تأکید دارند. مداخلاتی با هدف تقویت تاب‌آوری و افزایش حمایت اجتماعی می‌توانند آثار روانی ناشی از فشارهای همه‌گیری را کاهش دهند. پیشنهاد می‌شود پژوهش‌های آینده برای تبیین دقیق‌تر این مسیرها و توسعه راهبردهای پیشگیرانه و درمانی هدفمند ادامه یابد.

Keywords [Persian]

اختلال سازگاری
اضطراب مرگ
کووید-19
حمایت اجتماعی
تاب‌آوری

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Mediated Pathways from Death Anxiety and Fear of COVID-19 to Adjustment Disorder via Social Support and Resilience

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Volume 8, Issue 3 - Serial Number 25September 2025

Volume 8, Issue 3 - Serial Number 25
September 2025