Relationship between fear of coronavirus and death anxiety: Mediating role of behavioral inhibition system

Introduction: Due to the increasing rate of coronavirus disease, the experience of high levels of fear and anxiety worldwide is predictable. In this regard, the results of previous studies have shown that each of the variables of fear of coronavirus and behavioral inhibition system plays a decisive role in predicting death anxiety. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of coronavirus and death anxiety, and the mediating role of behavioral inhibition system in this regard. Materials and Methods: The research method of this study was descriptive-correlation type and structural equations. The statistical population of this study included Iranian adults. Among them 605 people were selected by the available sampling method. Data were collected in July and August 2020 using the Templer death anxiety scale, fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Carver and White BIS/BAS Scale in Mashhad, Iran. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation method and path analysis. Results: The results showed that death anxiety was significantly associated with fear of coronavirus (P< 0.01) and the behavioral inhibition system (P< 0.01). Also, the mediating role of the behavioral inhibition system was confirmed at the level of 0.001. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, fear of coronavirus can predict death anxiety through the mediating role of the behavioral inhibition system.