ABSTRACT. Despite the relevance of the relationship between pandemic awareness, virus anxiety, and contagious fear, only limited research has been conducted on this topic. Using and replicating data from GlobalWebIndex, Pew Research Center, Public Knowledge, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Canberra, and WHO, we performed analyses and made estimates regarding the primary harms of misinformation related to COVID-19. The results of a study based on data collected from 3,400 respondents provide support for our research model. Using the structural equation modeling, we gathered and analyzed data through a self-administrated questionnaire.

Keywords: COVID-19; misinformation; pandemic awareness; virus anxiety; contagious fear

How to cite: Lăzăroiu, G., Horak, J., and Valaskova, K. (2020). “Scaring Ourselves to Death in the Time of COVID-19: Pandemic Awareness, Virus Anxiety, and Contagious Fear,” Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations 19: 114–120. doi: 10.22381/LPI1920208

Received 13 April 2020 • Received in revised form 21 May 2020
Accepted 23 May 2020 • Available online 24 May 2020