AUTHOR=Zhang Huichun , Jasim Saade Abdalkareem , Suksatan Wanich , Hashim Alghazali Tawfeeq Abdulameer , Doewes Rumi Iqbal , Jalil Abduladheem Turki , Patra Indrajit , Singer Nermeen , Failoc-Rojas Virgilio E. , Marhoon Haydar Abdulameer , Mustafa Yasser Fakri , Ramírez-Coronel Andrés Alexis , Abdollahi Abbas TITLE=RETRACTED: Moderating role of compassion in the link between fear of Coronavirus disease and mental health among undergraduate students JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990678 DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990678 ISSN=1664-0640 ABSTRACT=Background

The societal challenges presented by fear related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may present unique challenges for an individual's mental health. However, the moderating role of compassion in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health has not been well-studied. The present study aimed to explore the association between fear of COVID-19 and mental health, as well as test the buffering role of compassion in this relationship.

Methods

The participants in this study were 325 Iranian undergraduate students (228 females), aged 18–25 years, who completed questionnaires posted on social networks via a web-based platform.

Results

The results showed that fear of COVID-19 was positively related with physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. The results also showed that compassion was negatively associated with physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. The interaction-moderation analysis revealed that compassion moderated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and subscale of mental health.

Conclusion

Results highlight the important role of compassion in diminishing the effect of fear of COVID-19 on the mental health (physical symptoms, social function, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms) of undergraduate students.