Fear of COVID-19, Physical Activity, and Psychopathology A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with high fear of infection and consequences of the pandemic, decline in physical activity and increase in depressive symptoms. Aims: This study assessed whether fear of COVID-19 is cross-sectionally associated with symptoms of depression in a clinical outpatient sample and if physical activity moderates this effect. Methods: Data was collected between March 2021 and May 2022 at 10 study sites in a crosssectional assessment of 401 participants, aged 18 65 (M = 42.08, SD = 13.26, 71.0% female). All participants fulfilled diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorders, insomnia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Data was analyzed using linear regression models including fear of COVID-19 (disease anxiety; consequence anxiety), selfreported physical activity, physical activity measured by accelerometers (min/week), as well as the interaction of these variables as predictors, depressive symptoms as the outcome. Results: The primary model s fit was significant, F(15, 377.13) = 1.89, p = .022. Consequence anxiety was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms (? = 0.12, t = 2.33, p = .020). We further observed a negative association between self-reported physical activity and depressive symptoms (? = _0.15, t = _2.73, p = .007). There was no significant interaction effect. Limitations: These results should be interpreted as an observational association. Conclusion: Results show that fear of the consequences of COVID-19 was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but physical activity did not moderate this association. We report an independent, negative association between self-reported physical activity and depressive symptoms.