Does 'Fear of COVID-19' trigger future career anxiety? An empirical investigation considering depression from COVID-19 as a mediator

Background: Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the mental health of the people all around the world is severely disrupted. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify whether 'Fear of COVID-19' impacted on future workforces' career anxiety at the first place and whether depression from COVID- 19 has any indirect effect on 'Fear of COVID-19' and future workforces' career anxiety. Method: Based on three different scales related to 'Fear of COVID- 19', depression and career anxiety, a structured questionnaire was developed and the survey data was collected for this study. Results: The empirical result of the study reveals that, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 fear, the future workforce is getting anxious about their future career. Again, depression from COVID-19, caused by 'Fear of COVID- 19', as a mediator, has a significant indirect impact on the relationship between 'Fear of COVID-19' and future career anxiety, resulting in a full mediation. This means, due to the outbreak of 'Fear of COVID-19' people are becoming depressed and anxious about their future career which is creating a long-term negative effect on human psychology. Conclusion: These research findings will be a major tool for the policymakers, as well as the human resource planning professionals, to sketch plans after COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a novel work combining the concepts of fear and depression with career anxiety in a pandemic situation like COVID-19, and also assists future researchers in many folds.

Automated summary

The study shows that the fears of COVID-19 outbreak have led to anxiety about future careers among the future workforce. Depression caused by COVID-19 acts as a mediator, having a significant indirect impact on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and career anxiety, fully mediating the effect. This indicates that the outbreak of fear of COVID-19 is causing individuals to become depressed and anxious about their future careers, leading to long-term negative effects on human psychology.