Fear in general populations: a cross-sectional study on perceived fear of common diseases, COVID-19, life events, and environmental threats in 30 countries

Li, Jiaying and Fong, Daniel Yee Tak and Lok, Kris Yuet Wan and Wong, Janet Yuen Ha and Ho, Mandy Man and Choi, Edmond Pui Hang and Pandian, Vinciya and Davidson, Patricia M and Duan, Wenjie and Tarrant, Marie and Lee, Jung Jae and Lin, Chia-Chin and Akingbade, Oluwadamilare and Alabdulwahhab, Khalid M and Ahmad, Mohammad Shakil and Alboraie, Mohamed and Alzahrani, Meshari A and Bilimale, Anil S and Boonpatcharanon, Sawitree and Byiringiro, Samuel and Che Hasan, Muhammad Kamil and Schettini, Luisa Clausi and Corzo, Walter and De Leon, Josephine M and De Leon, Anjanette S and Deek, Hiba and Efficace, Fabio and Nayal, Mayssah A El and El-Raey, Fathiya and Ensaldo-Carrasco, Eduardo and Escotorin, Pilar and Fadodun, Oluwadamilola Agnes and Fawole, Israel Opeyemi and Goh, Yong-Shian Shawn and Irawan, Devi and Khan, Naimah Ebrahim and Koirala, Binu and Krishna, Ashish and Kwok, Cannas and Le, Tung Thanh and Leal, Daniela Giambruno and Lezana-Fernández, Miguel Ángel and Manirambona, Emery and Mantoani, Leandro Cruz and Meneses-González, Fernando and Mohamed, Iman Elmahdi and Mukeshimana, Madeleine and Nguyen, Chinh Thi Minh and Nguyen, Huong Thi Thanh and Nguyen, Khanh Thi and Nguyen, Son Truong and Nurumal, Mohd Said and Nzabonimana, Aimable and Omer, Nagla Abdelrahim Mohamed Ahmed and Ogungbe, Oluwabunmi and Poon, Angela Chiu Yin and Reséndiz-Rodriguez, Areli and Puang-Ngern, Busayasachee and Sagun, Ceryl G and Shaik, Riyaz Ahmed and Shankar, Nikhil Gauri and Sommer, Kathrin and Toro, Edgardo and Tran, Hanh Thi Hong and Urgel, Elvira L and Uwiringiyimana, Emmanuel and Vanichbuncha, Tita and Youssef, Naglaa (2024) Fear in general populations: a cross-sectional study on perceived fear of common diseases, COVID-19, life events, and environmental threats in 30 countries. Journal of Global Health, 14. pp. 1-12. ISSN 2047-2978 E-ISSN 2047-2986

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Abstract

Background: In this study, we assessed the general population's fears towards various diseases and events, aiming to inform public health strategies that balance health-seeking behaviours. Methods: We surveyed adults from 30 countries across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions between July 2020 and August 2021. Participants rated their fear of 11 factors on an 11-point Likert scale. We stratified the data by age and gender and examined variations across countries and regions through multidimensional preference analysis. Results: Of the 16 512 adult participants, 62.7% (n = 10 351) were women. The most feared factor was the loss of family members, reported by 4232 participants (25.9%), followed by cancer (n = 2248, 13.7%) and stroke (n = 1416, 8.7%). The highest weighted fear scores were for loss of family members (mean (x̄) = 7.46, standard deviation (SD) = 3.04), cancer (x̄ = 7.00, SD = 3.09), and stroke (x̄ = 6.61, SD = 3.24). The least feared factors included animals/insects (x̄ = 3.72, SD = 2.96), loss of a mobile phone (x̄ = 4.27, SD = 2.98), and social isolation (x̄ = 4.83, SD = 3.13). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the sixth most feared factor (x̄ = 6.23, SD = 2.92). Multidimensional preference analyses showed distinct fears of COVID-19 and job loss in Australia and Burundi. The other countries primarily feared loss of family members, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks; this ranking was consistent across WHO regions, economic levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. Conclusions: Fear of family loss can improve public health messaging, highlighting the need for bereavement support and the prevention of early death-causing diseases. Addressing cancer fears is crucial to encouraging the use of preventive services. Fear of non-communicable diseases remains high during health emergencies. Top fears require more resources and countries with similar concerns should collaborate internationally for effective fear management.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RT Nursing
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Nursing
Depositing User:	Dr Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2024 09:19
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2024 09:52
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/112600

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