Predicting fear of COVID-19 based on depression, anxiety, and stress in administrative employees by emphasizing the role of ethnicity.

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BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated profound global mental health challenges, yet the interplay between depression, anxiety, stress, ethnicity, and fear of COVID-19 remains underexplored in occupational contexts. This study examines the prediction of COVID-19 fear through depression, anxiety, and stress, with particular attention to ethnic differences among Iranian administrative employees.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 524 participants from three ethnic groups (Fars, Turkmen, Mazandarani) recruited through convenience sampling from administrative offices in Gorgan, Iran. Standardized instruments (DASS-21, Fear of COVID-19 Scale) assessed psychological variables. Hierarchical regression and moderation analyses were performed using SPSS 22, with multicollinearity diagnostics (VIFs < 2.55) and reliability metrics (α = 0.843-0.917).

RESULTS

Anxiety (β = 0.324, p < 0.001) and stress (β = 0.182, p = 0.004) significantly predicted COVID-19 fear explained 19.9% of the variance. Depression showed no significant predictive role despite a moderate bivariate correlation (r = 0.315). Crucially, no ethnic differences emerged in fear levels (p = 0.314), nor did ethnicity moderate psychological predictors (ΔR² = 0.001, p = 0.547). Women reported significantly higher fear than men (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While anxiety and stress are critical predictors of fear of COVID-19, the absence of ethnic disparities suggests that occupational homogeneity may attenuate ethnocultural differences in mental health outcomes during health crises. Workplace interventions targeting anxiety and stress reduction are strongly recommended, particularly for female employees.