People who contracted COVID-19: the mediating role of shame and guilt in the link between threatening illness perception and mental health measures

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of a range of people, including healthcare workers, the general population, and COVID-19 patients. This study examined the psychological distress, negative affect, and positive affect of people who contracted COVID-19 in Israel, and their relation to threatening illness perception, guilt, and shame. Design: Cross-sectional design. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-one participants who had contracted COVID-19 completed self-report questionnaires assessing the study variables. Results: The results revealed a direct positive link between threatening COVID-19 illness perception and psychological distress and negative affect, and a negative link with positive affect. In addition, shame and guilt were significant mediators; namely, threatening COVID-19 illness perception was linked with negative affect via guilt, and with psychological distress, negative affect, and positive affect via shame. Conclusions: Illness perception, shame, and guilt may have a significant negative effect on the mental health of people who contracted COVID-19, and should be acknowledged and addressed by professionals.