Fear of COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms in adolescents: the mediating role of meaning in life and the moderating role of gender
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions were associated with substantial mental health burdens among adolescents, including PTSD symptoms. Meaning in life may explain the association between fear of COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms, and this association may differ by gender. Objective This study examined the association between fear of COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms among Chinese adolescents, tested the distinct indirect effects of Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning, and evaluated whether gender moderated the second-stage paths from both meaning dimensions to PTSD. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,291 middle school students recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed the FCV-19S, PCL-C, MLQ, and a demographic survey. The sample included 656 females (50.8%) and 635 males (49.2%), aged 11–18 years (M = 14.13, SD = 1.35). Analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro version 4.1; age was included as a covariate in every mediation and moderated mediation equation. Results Fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms ( r = 0.31, p < 0.001). After controlling for age, the indirect effect was significant through Presence of Meaning ( B = 0.059, 95% CI [0.031, 0.089]) but not Search for Meaning ( B = 0.005, 95% CI [−0.001, 0.015]); this pattern held in the parallel model (Presence: B = 0.060, 95% CI [0.032, 0.092]; Search: B = −0.002, 95% CI [−0.009, 0.004]). Gender moderated the second-stage Presence–PTSD path ( B = −0.159, p = 0.044; stronger among females) and the Search–PTSD path ( B = −0.231, p = 0.016; negative among females but not males). For Presence of Meaning, conditional indirect effects were significant for both males and females, whereas the index of moderated mediation was not significant (index = 0.012, 95% CI [−0.002, 0.034]); for Search for Meaning, conditional indirect effects were not significant. Conclusion In age-adjusted models, Presence of Meaning, but not Search for Meaning, showed a significant indirect association. Gender moderated the second-stage paths from both dimensions to PTSD, but the overall indirect effects did not differ by gender. These findings support distinguishing having meaning from seeking meaning; longitudinal research is needed to test causal or intervention implications.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223376724