ORIGINAL PAPER
Hope of success and fear of failure in post-COVID patients
1
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
2
Post-COVID Center of the University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
Submission date: 2025-05-21
Final revision date: 2025-12-07
Acceptance date: 2026-01-20
Online publication date: 2026-03-23
Corresponding author
Valentin Schick
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affects mental health, but knowledge of PCS remains limited. Investigating key motives, such as personal achievement, might help in understanding the behavior of patients with PCS. This study examined the associations between hope of success (HS) and fear of failure (FF) and health indicators in a PCS sample.
Participants and procedure:
In total, 332 patients completed questionnaires of PCS symptom severity (PCS-S), post-exertional malaise (PEM), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, GAD-7), as well as HS and FF. Correlations among these constructs and multiple linear regression analysis with PCS-S as a dependent variable were examined. A two-step cluster analysis identified clusters based on HS and FF scores, which were compared with each other.
Results:
The strength of the correlations between increased HS and elevated levels of depression and anxiety was moderate, while the correlations of strength with higher fatigue and PEM were weak. In the linear regression model, high HS was associated with lower PCS-S levels. Clusters with high HS tended to show more symptoms of depression and anxiety. The cluster with both high HS and FF exhibited the highest levels of these symptoms.
Conclusions:
HS appeared to be a relevant achievement motive for mental health impairment of PCS patients. Clusters demonstrated differing effects of combinations of HS and FF on health. To understand the underlying mechanisms, further research is necessary.
Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affects mental health, but knowledge of PCS remains limited. Investigating key motives, such as personal achievement, might help in understanding the behavior of patients with PCS. This study examined the associations between hope of success (HS) and fear of failure (FF) and health indicators in a PCS sample.
Participants and procedure:
In total, 332 patients completed questionnaires of PCS symptom severity (PCS-S), post-exertional malaise (PEM), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, GAD-7), as well as HS and FF. Correlations among these constructs and multiple linear regression analysis with PCS-S as a dependent variable were examined. A two-step cluster analysis identified clusters based on HS and FF scores, which were compared with each other.
Results:
The strength of the correlations between increased HS and elevated levels of depression and anxiety was moderate, while the correlations of strength with higher fatigue and PEM were weak. In the linear regression model, high HS was associated with lower PCS-S levels. Clusters with high HS tended to show more symptoms of depression and anxiety. The cluster with both high HS and FF exhibited the highest levels of these symptoms.
Conclusions:
HS appeared to be a relevant achievement motive for mental health impairment of PCS patients. Clusters demonstrated differing effects of combinations of HS and FF on health. To understand the underlying mechanisms, further research is necessary.
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