Does Fear of COVID-19 Prolongation Lead to Future Career Anxiety Among Adolescents? The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the lives of individuals from all different age groups. In particular, the prolongation of COVID-19 and the emergence of virus variants, such as Omicron, Delta and Alpha, have caused trauma to university students amid expectations that the associated economic, social, and psychological outcomes could affect their future careers. The current study, therefore, examines how the fear of COVID-19 prolongation may affect future career anxiety (FCA) among adolescents and to what extent depressive symptoms may determine such a relationship. Using a cross-sectional design, a survey was conducted to assess depressive symptoms, FCA, and fear of COVID-19 prolongation among 605 university students in Oman, an Arabic-speaking country located in the Gulf region. Using structural equation modeling, the results showed that there were significant standardized direct effects (unmediated) of fear of COVID-19 on depression from COVID-19 and of depression from COVID-19 on FCA. Additionally, depression from COVID-19 mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and FCA. The results are discussed within the Omani context of mental health service accessibility challenges and the dominant culture of perceiving mental health services with social stigma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-022-00506-w.

Introduction

Three years have passed since the first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong was announced. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and labeled the coronavirus a sixth public health emergency of international concern in modern history (Şimşir et al., 2022; Vilca et al., 2022). Several researchers have highlighted the broad range of psychosocial consequences that could be inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population (Badahdah et al., 2021; Hasani et al., 2020; Yıldırım et al., 2022) amidst speculations over its continuation for some years to come. Adolescents, in particular, have been more traumatized due to the prolongation of COVID-19 and the emergence of several COVID-19 variants (Bai et al., 2022; Cleveland et al., 2022; Şimşir et al., 2022; Yıldırım et al., 2022). With thousands of people being impacted by the incapacitating effects of COVID-19, certain groups, such as university students, appear to be more vulnerable and at increased risk of psychological problems (Mahmud et al., 2021; Pak et al., 2022). Limited research has examined the impact of COVID-19 prolongation on the mental health of university students in different contexts (El-Khodary et al., 2022; Malik & Javed, 2021).

There is evidence that pandemics create not only socioeconomic crises, but also psychological crises, such as fear, panic, anxiety, insomnia, depression, anger and boredom (Balakrishnan et al., 2022; Özdin & Bayrak Özdin, 2020). Psychological distress arises mainly from individuals’ ideas, which are shaped the media and news about the pandemic. The information, and, at times, misinformation, individuals receive results in fear, depression and anxiety about what may occur in the future (Alimoradi et al., 2022). Moreover, preventive policies implemented by governments to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, such as home confinement, physical distancing, and nationwide lockdowns, have also increased anxiety and fear among individuals and communities (Alimoradi et al., 2022; Bakioğlu et al., 2021). Additionally, published medical and scientific literature, as well as public reports in all types of media, have increased panic, fear, and stigmatization (Pak et al., 2022; Luo et al., 2021).

Psychological Outcomes of COVID-19

Anxiety and depression related to news of the global economy have become a major concern, particularly with forecasts that the prolongation of the pandemic may create a new reality for individuals and communities (Balakrishnan et al., 2022; Özdin & Bayrak Özdin, 2020). Across the globe, industries and economies have struggled to survive (Ciravegna & Michailova, 2022). Worldwide, the demand for various products has dropped, and the economy is falling into a financial depression (Duffin, 2020). Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted. It has been argued that the expected upcoming economic depression resulting from COVID-19 will be bigger than the 1930s Great Depression and could lead countries to face different crises related to the domestic financial crisis, health shocks, cut off of external demands and the collapse in commodity prices (Pavlović et al., 2020; Perez, 2020). Hence, social, economic and career anxiety has been elevated in young men, resulting in enormous psychological and mental health problems (Pak et al., 2022; Yetgin & Benligiray, 2019).

Preuniversity and university education were among the most affected sectors of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sudden shift to online and distance learning has required a change in teaching methods, curriculum, assessment methods, technology and communication skills. As a result, university students were highly affected, as distance learning has heightened the anxiety of not having enough skills to practice certain careers, particularly in applied university specializations (El-Khodary et al., 2022; Vilca et al., 2022). Moreover, the global economic situation has placed university students’ plans for the career market in the near future at risk (Mahmud et al., 2021), which has elevated their worry and concern about the future.

Fear and anxiety of COVID-19, together with quarantine and isolation, have been postulated to generate certain psychological responses, such as emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors among individuals (Pedrosa et al., 2020; Fattah et al., 2021). In the context of the current COVID-19 prolongation, fear is thought to cause trauma that results in mass anxiety and depression. Fear is perceived as one of the primary emotions that are experienced by all ages, cultures, and species (Vilca et al., 2022) and is defined as an appraisal of danger. Fear also plays a vital role in increasing anxiety about the future (Rodriguez et al., 2020). This indicates that fatal epidemic diseases, such as COVID-19, can generate fear in individuals related to their physical and psychological health.

Anxiety, as defined by Barlow (2000), is an unpleasant feeling associated with a physiological reaction when fear is provoked and is a human emotion formed as a result of the perception of future threats. Considering COVID-19 prolongation, it has been observed that fear, panic, and anxiety have been exacerbated among individuals worldwide (Alimoradi et al., 2022; Bakioğlu et al., 2021). Fear and anxiety are elicited not only by the fear of the virus itself, but also by its effect on daily lives in the form of disruption, chaos and uncertainty (Botha & Mostert, 2013). Moreover, as mentioned earlier, global economic circumstances have become a major source of anxiety for the future workforce, particularly university students who are beginning their professional lives. The career development theory states that university students aged 23–25 years start forming their career expectations during their university years (Tsai et al., 2017).

Mann et al. (2020) measured the level of personal economic anxiety in a sample of almost 500 participants from the USA. The results indicated that 85% of participants were experiencing a high level of economic anxiety, whereas only 15% reported low or no economic anxiety (Duplaga & Grysztar, 2021). Financial analysts have also cautioned against the economic recession resulting from COVID-19 continuation, which may place an excessive psychological burden on adolescents as a future workforce (Ciravegna & Michailova, 2022).

Depression from COVID-19 has increased at a significantly higher level in the general population. Several studies (Duan & Zhu, 2020; Huang & Zhao, 2020) have already examined depression as an outcome of COVID-19. Depression is a psychological disorder that is marked by a general loss of interest, despair, self-depreciation and persistent feelings of sorrow (Holtzheimer & Mayberg, 2011). The connection between fear, anxiety, and depression was found by Izard (1977), who pointed out that fear is mostly associated with future emotions, anxiety predicts the threat of the future and depression is related to past or imminent events. Due to the recent global pandemic, fear among the future workforce comes as a result of speculating about their future career plan, which, in turn, triggers career-related anxiety. In addition, uncertainty about obtaining a job due to the downfall in the world economy has reduced individuals’ self-esteem, leading to depression among the future workforce (Pavlović et al., 2020).

Context of the Study

In Oman, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an enormous burden on health services, social and economic systems, and the educational system. According to the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI 2021), Oman has a population of 4.471.148. The number of confirmed cases in Oman until February 2021 was 139.692. Based on a geospatial modeling analysis, there was an influence of specific demographic and socioeconomic factors on COVID-19, including the percentage of Omani and expatriate populations at various age levels, population density, number of hospital beds, number of households, and purchasing power (Al Kindi et al., 2021). The knowledge, attitudes and practices of the Omani people toward COVID-19 symptoms, modes of transmission, and attitudes toward the disease were shown to be adequate in a sample of Omani individuals with a mean age of 38.27 (Al-Marshoudi et al., 2021). Badahdah et al. (2021) reported a high prevalence of stress, anxiety and poor psychological well-being among health care workers, particularly in females, young health professionals, and frontline care workers who interacted directly with COVID-19 patients. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, misinformation has spread through multiple channels and social media platforms, causing considerable effects and perceptions of the acceptance of COVID-19 social and medical precautionary measures, including vaccines, lockdown, and social distancing. The misinformation caused elevated levels of stress among Omani university students (Malik & Javed, 2021).

As elsewhere in the world, COVID-19 has disrupted education in schools and higher education institutions. Given that teaching and learning are based on direct interaction, preuniversity and university education were negatively affected by the lockdown measures taken by the government as a response to the pandemic. Al-Balushi et al., (2022) used thematic analysis and critical reflection to examine interview data and official documents issued by higher education institutions following the outbreak of COVID-19. Three modes of responses (risky, emergency, and inducing long-term changes) and four challenges (appropriate mode of delivery, teacher and student readiness, learning management system, and alternative assessment methods) characterized different higher education institutions in Oman during the pandemic. Furthermore, teachers and students grappled with the paradigm shift to the use of new technologies, which resulted in emotional and psychological disturbance, particularly as several students did not secure a suitable space in their homes for effective learning and due to the unavailability of internet access in some regions in Oman (Malik & Javed, 2021). These challenges and the abrupt changes represented a trauma to university students, which induced mental health problems, including academic stress and the fear of delay in completing the study program, particularly with expectations of COVID-19 prolongation. Previous research has shown that uncertainty during crisis times has a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of university students (Bai et al., 2022; Cleveland et al., 2022). The impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of Omani university students was aggravated by public emergencies following home confinement and a shift to online learning. Only one study examined the psychological stress of university students in Oman following the outbreak of COVID-19 (Malik & Javed, 2021). While there is prolific literature on the psychological outcomes of COVID-19 among university students in Western countries, little has been published on the Arab region (Yildrim et al., 2022).

In addition, the study examines whether the relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and FCA is influenced by the mediational effect of depression from COVID-19 prolongation. The current study seeks to explore whether fear of COVID-19 prolongation and depression from COVID-19 prolongation have a direct effect on university students’ FCA. The theoretical framework and proposed model is based on the aforementioned documented research on the psychological outcomes of COVID-19 on the mental health well-being of individuals and. The framework shown in Fig. 1 has been proposed and tested:

Fig. 1.

Proposed mediation model describing the relationship of fear of COVID-19, depressive symptoms, and future career anxiety in Omani university students

This framework is supported by different theories of emotion. Emotions imply a complex state of feeling that triggers physical and psychological manifestations in behavior and thinking schemas, positively or negatively (Barlow, 2000; Emam et al., 2019). The behavioral outcome of humans as a result of a different form of emotions has been described by different researchers through different theories. James-Lang’s theory and Lazarus’s theory of emotions support the theoretical model tested in the current study. James-Lang theory postulates that physiological responses to any event influence the emotional response of a person. This indicates that there is an event that impacts a person’s physiology, which is then followed by an emotional response (Emam et al., 2019; Pedrosa et al., 2020). Moreover, Lazarus’s theory of emotion states that there shall be an event that is first labeled by a person through personal experiences that instantaneously form emotional and physiological responses. Thus, all forms of emotions, such as fear, anger, and anxiety, can be linked with these prominent theories of emotions (Pedrosa et al., 2020).

To further examine the relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and FCA, the current study explores a possible mediational effect of depressive symptoms on this relationship. Furthermore, such a relationship has been documented in different age groups, including adolescents and adults, with anxiety being strongly related to depressive symptoms, as well as demotivation in academic success due to blurry professional behavior (El-Khodary et al., 2022; Malik & Javed, 2021; Pak et al., 2022; Şimşir et al., 2022). Research on adolescents’ mental health has made a compelling argument that depressive symptoms may result from an interaction between negative cognitions and negative life events (Bai et al., 2022; Cleveland et al., 2022). Such interplay affects adolescents’ ability to manage personal and future goals. Emam et al. (2019) reported that negative life events, as indicated by the view of the self, the view of the world, and the view of the future, conferred vulnerability to depressive symptoms among Omani adolescents. Certainly, the view of the world and view of the future are related to adolescents’ display of depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, more research is needed to fully understand the pattern of relationships that exist between specific situations, such as that of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other related variables as university students plan to transition to postuniversity life. This is particularly essential given the significance of university students’ mental health and wellbeing for long-term trajectories of success and failure by individuals in society.

In summary, the current study extends the theories of emotions by assuming that COVID-19 prolongation has elevated the fear of university students who represent the future workforce; fear is assumed to directly influence career-related anxiety; and depressive symptoms associated with COVID-19 prolongation are assumed to play a mediational role in increasing students’ FCA. The following set of hypotheses were postulated and tested:

H1: There is a significant relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and FCA.

H2: There is a significant relationship between COVID-19 prolongation-related depressive symptoms and FCA.

H3: COVID-19 prolongation-related depressive symptoms act as a mediator in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and FCA.

Method

Participants. The study was approved by the institutional internal review board (IIRB). Convenience sampling was used during the data collection phase. Data were collected from March 27 to April 21, 2021. An online survey including the data instruments was sent out via email and social media to university students in different higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. The invitation to participate in the study included information on the study aim and a consent form. Participants were told that the data would be kept private and that their personal information would remain confidential.

After four weeks of data collection, 605 indigenous Omani students from University Colleges completed the survey. Participants included 265 (43.8%) males and 340 (56.2%) females. The majority [512 (84.6%)] of the participants had not been infected with COVID-19, whereas 33 (5.5%) were suffering from chronic illness, 416 (68.8%) were having family members infected with COVID-19, 89 (14.7%) lost family members due to COVID-19, and 330 (54.5%) believed that COVID-19 would continue. Table 1 summarizes the participants’ responses to the demographic section of the online survey.

Table 1.

characteristics of study participants

Variable	N(%)	Variable	N(%)
Gender		Do you have chronic illness?
Male	265(43.8)	Yes	33(5.5)
Female	340(56.2)	No	572(94.5)
Study Year		Family member diagnosed with COVID-19?
1st	138(22.8)	Yes	416(68.8)
2nd	86(14.2)	No	189(31.2)
3rd	94(15.5)	Family member lost as a result of COVID-19?
4th	112(18.5)	Yes	89(14.7)
< 4	175(28.9)	No	516(85.3)
Have you been infected with COVID-19 before?		You think COVID-19 will ….?
Yes	93(15.4)	Continue	330(54.5)
No	512(84.6)	Will come to an end soon?	275(45.5)

Instruments

An online survey was used to collect data. The survey included two sections: (1) single indicator variables that required information on the participant’s socioeconomic demographics, including gender, exposure to COVID-19 infection, family members’ infection with COVID-19, decease of a family member due to COVID-19 infection, personal belief about the expected continuity of COVID-19 pandemic, and suffering from a chronic disease of long-lasting health illness; (2) multiple indicator variables that included three scales, namely, fear of COVID-19, depression from COVID-19, and FCA. The scales were translated from English to Arabic using the team translation method (Harkness et al., 2004). This method involves conducting a forward translation holding a consensus meeting followed by a final reconciliation meeting. A group of four, including two of the authors, translated the scales from English to Arabic. Next, the group members discussed the parallel translations for each item and agreed on the adequate translation. Finally, the group members met with an adjudicator, a faculty member from the psychology department who has good command in English and Arabic, to reconcile any disagreements among the translators in case there were any. The three scales are described below.

Fear of COVID-19 Scale

It is a seven-item self-report scale that asks participants to rate their level of agreement on a five-point Likert scale where a total score ranges from 7 to 35, and a higher score indicates greater fear of COVID-19 (Mahmud et al., 2021; Alimoradi et al., 2022; Bakioğlu et al., 2021). The items were adapted to reflect fear of COVID-19 prolongation (e.g., my hands become sweaty when I think about COVID-19 prolongation). For the current study data, the scale has acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.85), and the corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.48 to 0.67. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess scale construct validity; the indices showed a unidimensional model with a good fit to the participants’ responses (GFI = 0.99, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.05).

Depression from COVID-19 Scale

Depression symptoms cause persistent feelings of frustration, loss of interest, and sadness. The scale was developed by Mahmud et al. (2021) and consists of 6 positive items that are answered on a four-point response format with a total score ranging from 6 to 24 (e.g., I felt that life is meaningless due to the fear of COVID-19 prolongation). Although Mahmud and his colleagues claimed that the scale assesses depression, it is believed that the scale evaluates depressive symptoms rather than depression as a disorder. The scale has acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.82), and the corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.50 to 0.64. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess scale construct validity; the indices showed that a unidimensional model is a good fit for the sample’s responses (GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.012).

Future Career Anxiety Scale

Tsai et al. (2017) developed a 25-item scale comprising four dimensions (personal ability, irrational beliefs about employment, employment environment, and professional education training). The present study utilized the dimension of employment environment to measure university students’ FCA given the forecasts of expected continuation of the pandemic (e.g., I worry about future employment because of the increasing unemployment and job cut reported by the mass media for the reason of COVID-19 prolongation). The scale has acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.92), and the corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.75 to 0.84. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess scale construct validity, and the scale model data fit indices were excellent (GFI = 0.99, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.01).

Data Analysis

Data were exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive analyses were used to determine the frequencies, means, and standard deviations to describe sample demographics. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted by AMOS version 20 to determine the direct effects of fear of COVID-19 and depression from COVID-19 on FCA and the indirect effect of depression from COVID-19 on FCA. Following Hu and Bentler (1999), the model fit indices were evaluated using RMSEA, CFI, and GFI. The acceptable values for RMSEA are equal to or less than.08, and those for CFI and GFI are equal to or greater than.90. The bootstrap procedure using the maximum likelihood estimates was used to examine each specific indirect effect (Preacher & Hayes 2008).

Results

Multiple Indicator Variables

As shown in Table 2, univariate analyses revealed that no gender differences were observed in the fear of COVID-19, depression from COVID-19, and FCA (F = 0.024, p = 0.877; F = 2.89, P = 0.09; F = 1.3, P = 0.255), no differences were observed between university students in various study years (F = 0.241, P = 0.944, F = 1.02, P = 0.405, F = 1.98, P = 0.079), and similarly, no differences were found as a result of the interaction between gender and the program study year (F = 1.27, p = 0.274; F = 0.548, P = 0.74; F = 1.26 P = 0.278). Independent sample t tests were performed to assess the existence of significant mean differences in the single indicator variables outlined in Table 1. The results indicated that there were mean differences in the fear of COVID-19 due to the diagnosis of a family member with COVID-19, participants who lost one of their family members due to COVID-19, and participants’ beliefs about COVID-19 prolongation. Additionally, participants who lost one of their family members due to COVID-19 showed higher depressive symptoms. Participants who believed that the COVID-19 pandemic would continue for a long time showed higher fear of COVID-19, higher depressive symptoms, and higher FCA.

Table 2.

Univariate analysis of fear of COVID-19, depression from COVID-19, future career anxiety (FCA)

Variable	Category	N	fear M(SD)	P	depression M(SD)	P	FCA M(SD)	P
Gender	Male	265	7.69(4.63)	0.877	4.18(3.78)	0.09	8.83(4.07)	0.255
	Female	340	7.85(3.99)		4.67(3.79)		9.04(4.11)
Study Year	pre	42	8.14(4.99)	0.944	3.93(3.51)	0.405	9.12(4.04)	0.079
	1st	96	7.80(4.12)		4.36(3.94)		8.82(4.00)
	2nd	86	8.09(4.30)		4.63(4.06)		7.93(4.12)
	3rd	94	7.85(4.12)		4.64(3.58)		9.20(4.32)
	4th	112	7.84(4.42)		5.02(4.01)		9.56(4.52)
	< 4	175	7.46(4.21)		4.09(3.59)		8.95(4.09)
Have you been infected with the COVID-19 before?	Yes	93	7.53(4.35)	0.533	3.84(3.67)	0.089	9.08(3.84)	0.749
	No	512	7.83(4.27)		4.57(3.80)		8.93(4.14)
Do you have chronic illness?	No	572	7.76(4.23)	0.526	4.48(3.89)	0.571	8.94(4.11)	0.739
	Yes	33	8.24(5.020)		4.09(3.87)		9.18(3.90)
Family member diagnosed with COVID-19?	No	189	7.16(3.99)	0.016	4.51(3.74)	0.816	9.11(4.13)	0.530
	Yes	416	8.06(4.38)		4.43(3.82)		8.88(4.08)
Family member died by COVID-19?	No	516	7.54(4.12)	0.003	4.33(3.71)	0.047	9.07(3.99)	0.095
	Yes	89	9.20(4.92)		5.19(4.15)		8.28(4.58)
You think the COVID-19	Will end soon	275	7.22(4.02)	0.003	4.06(3.61)	0.019	8.15(4.20)	< 0.001
	Continue	330	8.25(4.44)		4.78(3.91)		9.62(3.89)

The Structural Model

The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant positive association between fear of COVID-19, depression from COVID-19, and FCA. Table 3 provides the correlation matrix between the three variables. The standardized regression weights for scale items were statistically significant and ranged from 0.54 to 0.76 for fear of COVID-19 items, from 0.55 to 0.80 for depression from COVID-19 items, and from 0.71 to 0.90 for FCA items. All item loadings were above the minimum criterion of 0.5, whereas some of them were above the ideal criterion of 0.7 (Hair et al., 2019; Malhotra& dash, 2016). For the structural model, the model fit indices were acceptable (CMIN/DF = 3.38, GFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.95, IFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06). The results of the structural model are shown in Fig. 2. There were significant standardized direct effects (unmediated) of fear of COVID-19 on depression from COVID-19 (0.77) and of depression from COVID-19 on FCA (0.41). Additionally, depression from COVID-19 mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and FCA (0.32) (see Fig. 2).

Table 3.

Correlation matrix

Variable	Fear of corona	Depression of corona	Future career anxiety
Fear of COVID-19	1
Depression from COVID-19	0.58	1
Future career anxiety	0.32	0.43	1

Note: Correlations is significant at the 0.01 level

Fig. 2.

Results of the structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis of the mediation of fear of COVID-19, depressive symptoms, and future career anxiety in Omani university students (n = 605), *** = p < 0.001

Discussion

The primary purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationships between university students’ fear of COVID-19, depression and their FCA. Overall, it is clear that the participants showed high levels of fear, depression and FCA. This shows that major psychological health problems exist among university students due to COVID-19 prolongation, which is consistent with the moderate to severe symptoms of fear, depression, and anxiety observed in previous research following the onset of the pandemic (Alimoradi et al., 2022; Balakrishnan et al., 2022; Luo et al., 2021). There were no gender differences in the fear of COVID-19, depression, or FCA among the participants. This finding is inconsistent with previous research studies on gender differences in fear of COVID-19 (Rodriguez et al., 2020; Bakioğlu et al., 2021). The finding could be interpreted from a contextual perspective, as both male and female students were equally worried about the possible continuation of COVID-19 and how this could affect their study programs (Malik & Javed, 2021), as well as employability after graduation (Cifuentes-Faura et al., 2021). It is suggested that the academic demands of university programs and the uncertain outlook due to possible COVID-19 prolongation has taken its toll on learning and evaluation processes, leading to emotions of fear and depression in both female and male students (Rodriguez et al., 2020).

The results of the current investigation suggest that there are significant relationships between fear of COVID-19, depression, and FCA. As hypothesized, fear of COVID-19 among Omani University students’ was significantly and positively related to COVID-19 prolongation-related depressive symptoms. This finding is congruent with previous research evidence suggesting that adolescents’ fear of COVID-19 and depressive symptoms are strongly associated (Alimoradi et al., 2022; Bakioğlu et al., 2021; Mahmud et al., 2021). Interestingly, several previous studies have shown that depressive symptoms are correlated with several negative episodes and consequences in adolescents (Mahmud et al., 2021; Taylor, 2019). In particular, this relationship was confirmed for female students more than for male students (García-Fernández et al., 2021; Hou et al., 2020). In examining Greek university students’ wellbeing and mental health variables during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaparounaki et al. (2020) reported that there was a dramatic increase in clinical cases of depression. Additionally, there was a horizontal increase in scores on anxiety, sleep quality and quantity, and other mental health issues (Vilca et al., 2022). Thus, it may be that depressive symptoms and fear of COVID-19 were two primary issues that affected university students’ wellbeing following the pandemic outbreak and prolongation. In a meta-analysis of 20 studies (Şimşir et al., 2022), the results showed a moderate mean weighted between fear of COVID-19 and depression. This finding is consistent with the view that different fears can be associated with depression (Barlow, 2000; Emam et al., 2019). Additionally, the results from 23 studies showed a strong mean weighted between fear of COVID-19 and anxiety. The fear of COVID-19 reflects the psychological nature of a phobia that is classified as a type of anxiety disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

The second main aim of our investigation was to explore the influence of fear of COVID-19 prolongation and depression on FCA. We designed a theoretical model based on a review of previous research and contrasted it with the collected data. The results obtained in the structural equations showed an excellent fit to the model. In line with our hypotheses, Omani university students’ FCA was significantly related to their depressive symptoms (García-Fernández et al., 2021). It may be that both males and females were thinking deeply about the consequences of COVID-19 prolongation on their future career and employability (Cifuentes-Faura et al., 2021). They may have thought of the economic impact of the pandemic on the country’s public and private institutions. In addition, adolescents’ belief in conspiracy theory as a possible cause of the pandemic, which was documented in previous research (Miller, 2020), may have resulted in mistrust in any scientific reports on the future trajectory of the pandemic. This finding is consistent with previous research suggesting that depression and future anxiety, whether general or specific (e.g., career), tend to co-occur due to the individual’s negative view of self, the world, and the future (Botha & Mostert, 2013; Emam et al., 2019; Pak et al., 2022). In particular, there is research evidence that negative cognitions operate on the aforementioned three aspects for Omani adolescents, which affects their perception of the future (Barlow, 2000; Emam et al., 2019; Izard 1977; Pedrosa et al., 2020).

Thus, our hypotheses were corroborated. As hypothesized, fear of COVID-19 had a direct unmediated effect on depression from COVID-19, and the latter had a direct impact on students’ FCA. Mediational analyses aimed to test our hypothesis that depression from COVID-19 would explain the relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and university students’ FCA. Previous research suggests that depressive symptoms are important in predicting general and specific future anxieties (Bakioğlu et al., 2021; Duplaga & Grysztar, 2021). Consistent with our hypothesis, the participants’ depression from COVID-19 prolongation mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 prolongation and FCA. This finding implied that students’ FCA was related indirectly to their fear of COVID-19 prolongation and that students’ depressive syndromes contributed to determining and interpreting this relationship. Thus, the connection between students’ fear of COVID-19 prolongation and their FCA may be explained by depression from COVID-19. This model of relationships received due attention from universities when they planned to provide psychological services during crisis time to support students in avoiding traumatic experiences. Students may benefit from counseling services that prioritize addressing their depressive symptoms, independent of the level of fear of COVID-19 prolongation. The relationship of fear of COVID-19 prolongation with FCA mediated by depression from COVID-19 has not been described before, making this a novel contribution. The conditions in which university students in Oman have to cope with the continuation of the pandemic are extremely adverse in many ways. The emergence of several variants, the large number of people affected, the growing number of deaths, mistrust of the health system, a lack of awareness, and disinformation may have all contributed significantly to the fact that young university students experience fear of COVID-19 prolongation. University students tend to feel more fear when they perceive themselves in a more vulnerable situation and in greater danger. Families often place high expectations on future careers and employment of adolescents. In Oman, study programs in public universities are closely connected with job market needs (Al-Balushi et al., 2022). Therefore, it is reasonable that university students become anxious about their future career and employability as a result of COVID-19 prolongation.

Limitations

The current study is not without limitations. First, the participants were from the top higher education institutions in Oman. Therefore, it could be argued that they hold higher expectations of their future career compared to other students in other universities and colleges. This could diminish the generalizability of the study findings to the larger population of university students in Oman. Second, the findings are based on the use of self-report measures that involve the threat of social desirability. Participants may have exaggerated or underrated their feelings to deliver a message that may not be true of themselves. Therefore, the study results should be interpreted with this assumption in mind. Third, depressive symptoms were tested as a mediator in the model, although other possible variables could have been included, such as stress, religious coping, and resilience. Nonetheless, previous literature was relied upon to build our model. Furthermore, the use of depressive symptoms versus depression was meant to avoid the overlap between depression as a psychological disorder that has diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Finally, these findings should be interpreted within the limitations of the cross-sectional methodology that was employed, which does not confirm a causal relationship. Longitudinal data could not be collected, as there was no clear vision of the trajectory of the pandemic.

Implications and Conclusion

Despite the stated limitations, the current study contributed to understanding university students’ FCA during crisis times. University students or adolescents in general represent an interesting population, and therefore, their mental health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to their families and to society. Based on these findings, the uncertainty and the peril perceived by adolescents could turn into a fertile breeding ground for fear, depression and FCA (Pak et al., 2022). Therefore, there is an urgent need to design intervention plans in universities to help these young people better cope with this type of situation and avoid future trauma. University students’ exposure to stressful conditions and crisis’ have increased in modern times, such as with the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in psychological problems and issues with mental health. Consequently, university students who are in aunique developmental period of adolescence should receive adequate psychological services that can be provided within, as well as outside, the university. Based on our structural model, different measures to prevent and alleviate this may be suggested. To reduce fear of COVID-19, it would be advisable to run convincing information campaigns about the disease, with training provided for its prevention and for effective coping strategies.

Although the results of the current investigation were in line with the hypotheses made prior to data collection, further investigation may entail other possible variables that could have a direct or indirect impact on students’ FCA during times of crisis. Examples of these variables may include religiousness, religious coping, family support, and support received from significant others. Given that the number of university students seeking psychological counseling has been on the rise globally, further knowledge should be gained on the characteristics of adolescents, their interplay with the environment, and the trajectories they may take during times of crisis and traumatic events. Health services professionals in clinical and nonclinical settings should be able to address adolescents’ psychological needs in normal, as well as difficult times. Adolescents’ resilience and ability to adapt during difficult times should be examined empirically and targeted by professionals. Culture-specific enablers and obstacles should be explored to present new information on the potential mediators and moderators of the relationship between adolescents’ mental health and the different environments with which adolescents interrelate at various times.

Electronic Supplementary Material

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Declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors claim no conflict of interest. The authors claim responsibility of writing the manuscript following the ethical procedures. The manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere and has received no funding.