Is Fear of COVID-19 Contagious?
The Effects of Emotion Contagion and Social Media Use on Anxiety in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
In the last year and a half, our world has changed dramatically. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic came uncertainty, difficulty, and chaos. But despite all of this, we found ourselves grappling with something bigger than ourselves, something more troubling than the pandemic itself.
We were confronted with a new virus: fear.
Everywhere we turned, people were rushing to grocery stores. And although infection rates were quite low, hoarding levels were at an all-time high, with people stocking up on anything and everything, from toilet paper to hand sanitizer. During these first few months, it was clear that something else was taking over.
It was like Steven Soderbergh predicted in his 2011 film, Contagion, "Nothing spreads like fear." Yet researchers remained skeptical.
How could something so imperceptible spread faster than COVID-19 itself?
This was the question that Michael G. Wheaton, Alena Prikhidko, and Gabrielle R. Messner sought to answer in their 2021 study, “Is Fear Contagious?” Studying the links between emotion contagion, media consumption, and mental health conditions, the team attempted to answer the question on everyone's mind.
Is fear socially transmissible?
Is Fear of COVID-19 Contagious?
Since the notion of a "new normal" emerged, people have been suffering from anxiety. Whether it's worrying about a new COVID-19 variant or the anxiety of returning to an old life with new rules and standards, fear is everywhere.
It's not unusual, though. In fact, this phenomenon is so common that researchers have even given it a name: Coronaphobia. Associated with feelings of excessive fear, anxiety, and safety-seeking, Coronaphobia marks the newest affliction threatening us.
During this period of upheaval, our ability to adapt has been severely tested. In response to the threat-related perception, our bodies have developed an automatic defensive strategy: to fight, flee, or freeze.
But like we said, this is not unusual.
As a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey found, one-third of Americans have faced clinical anxiety or depression as a result of COVID-19. In some respects, the threat is similar to that posed by previous pandemics, like Swine Flu or SARS.
It's almost always the same. There is widespread fear and anxiety among the general public. And, as with COVID-19, once one person becomes infected, thousands more are likely to follow. After all, in today's world, it only takes one person to cause global panic.
The question is, of course, how such a thing is even possible. Is it the fault of the news and media? Or, could this simply be human empathy at work?
How Can We Use Social Media to Help Older Adults Feel More Connected?
The Aarts study proposed that discussion boards and online communities could be a positive place for older adults struggling with loneliness since these platforms provide opportunities to share experiences and find support from others.
In a 2013 study on younger adults, social media reduced loneliness and enhanced well-being when they shared their personal thoughts or feelings online. Encouraging older adults to be active social media users—posting, commenting, sharing, and messaging—may also help their mental health and sense of connection.
What Causes Coronaphobia?
In looking at the underlying causes of global panic, the factor of emotion contagion stands out to researchers. Defined as a rapid transmission of emotions from one person to another, emotion contagion can cause people to develop affective responses, similar to Coronaphobia.
And as researchers have found, the process can occur almost anywhere. According to the study, emotional states can be transmitted from one person to another in a matter of seconds, thanks to the digital age.
But, how?
Well, consider this: One individual expresses a negative emotion online, venting about the anxiety they feel as a result of COVID-19. Upon reading this individual's post, other readers may begin to examine their stress level and realize that they have numerous reasons to be anxious. Like an epidemic, panic spreads one by one.
And it's not just panic and anxiety that spreads. According to the study conducted by Wheaton, Prikhidko, and Messner, individuals who are more attuned to the emotional experiences of others are also vulnerable to symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Aside from feeling angry, sad, worried, and concerned, the participants also noticed changes in their behaviors during the outbreak, such as excessively washing their hands. These results are particularly significant, as they demonstrate that anxiety and OCD symptoms increase for some due to the pandemic.
However, it is important to note that the keyword here is "some." Why is the impact limited to a subset rather than the entire population? And, is there any significance to this?
Why Do Some Individuals Develop Coronaphobia?
Over the course of the research, some of the common questions asked were: What triggers symptoms related to anxiety, depression, or OCD? Do these challenges seem more prominent among social media users? Or, does it seem to affect all individuals, irrespective of their media exposure?
In any case, the answer is "it depends." According to the study, media can produce variable effects; therefore, just because some platforms and news publications cause greater anxiety, it does not imply that they all do.
As a general rule, increased concerns about COVID-19 cannot be attributed solely to media coverage and social media use. As with previous global pandemics, media coverage may be associated with anxiety, stress, and other psychological difficulties such as OCD, but it is not always causal.
Rather, it's more important to identify what content triggers symptoms related to anxiety and stress. For instance, some media may raise more questions than others, such as an article on COVID-19 hygiene. A piece like this will naturally lead to symptoms related to OCD, including excessive cleaning.
So, How Can I Manage My Coronaphobia?
There's no denying that the last year and a half has been a whirlwind. In the aftermath of the crisis and its disruption, mental health problems have worsened. Even so, we are not in a bind. In fact, there are several measures you can take to manage your symptoms.
For one, be gentle with yourself. As we come out of the pandemic, be sure to treat yourself as you would a friend. Take steps to manage your Coronaphobia symptoms, and take good care of yourself.
Take action to overcome your anxiety, and don't let irrational thoughts take up your attention; instead, focus on the facts and figures.
Remember that you can only fight the things you can control. All the rest is noise, which you must learn to tune out.
In the end, if none of these measures appear to work and your symptoms persist or worsen, consider seeing a medical professional. Together, we will put COVID-19 behind us.
Study Objective & Methods
Is Fear of COVID-19 Contagious? The Effects of Emotion Contagion and Social Media Use on Anxiety in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Michael G. Wheaton, PhD; Alena Prikhidko, PhD, MS; Gabrielle R. Messner, BA
During the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, researchers investigated the relationship between susceptibility to emotion contagion, media usage, and emotional reactions among adults in the United States.
Results of the study showed that emotion contagion was associated with concerns about the spread of COVID-19 as well as with psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and OCD.
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