Psychosomatic Symptoms and Neuroticism following Covid-19

The Role of Online Aggression toward a Stigmatized Group

Bibliographic Data

ID15514658
AuthorsFei Teng (0000-0003-0371-1142, South China Normal University), Xijing Wang (0000-0003-3923-6064, City University of Hong Kong, corresponding author), Jiaxin Shi (0000-0002-6060-926X, University of Hong Kong), Zhansheng Chen (0000-0003-0873-3391, University of Hong Kong), Qianying Huang (0009-0001-1588-3577, South China Normal University), Wanrong Cheng (0009-0005-1946-8257, South China Normal University)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue16
Pages8672-8672
Publication date2021-08-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18168672
PMID34444420
OpenAlexW3195961476
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited61

The present study investigated the effect of interpersonal mistreatment on the perpetrators' mental health. We proposed that the threat of COVID-19 will increase people's mental health problems through their on-line aggression toward stigmatized groups accused of spreading the disease and that there might be potential gender differences in such effects. We tested our predictions among a sample of U.S. residents (Study 1) and a large sample of Chinese residents living out of Hubei province (Study 2) during a heightened period of concern about COVID-19, February 2020. Specifically, we measured U.S. residents' on-line aggressive behaviors toward Chinese people (Study 1) and Chinese non-Hubei residents' on-line aggressive behaviors toward Hubei residents (Study 2) as well as their neuroticism (Study 1) and mental health states (Study 2). In line with our predictions, both studies showed that perceived infection of COVID-19 can induce on-line aggression toward stigmatized groups, thereby increasing people's mental health problems. Moreover, the relationship between COVID-19 vulnerability, on-line aggression, and psychosomatic symptoms was more prominent in men than in women. These results offer insights into people's responses toward COVID-19 and add to the understanding of people's mental and physical health during the epidemic stage of contagious diseases

Aggression · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Interpersonal communication · Mental health · Neuroticism · Personality · Psychiatry · Vulnerability (computing · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology