The COVID-19 pandemic has been implicated in several mental health challenges faced by many people. These challenges can also arise due to the fear of being infected with COVID-19 and engaging in preventative behavior. This study investigated the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptomology and psychological distress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and preventive health behavior. A sample of 1172 individuals (mean age = 22.9 years, 54.5% females) participated in the online survey. Correlation analysis revealed that preventive health behavior has a positive relationship with fear of COVID-19 and post-traumatic stress symptomology but a negative relationship with psychological distress. Further analysis indicated that post-traumatic stress symptomology and psychological distress mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and preventive health behavior. Post-traumatic stress symptomology caused by the fear of COVID-19 could contribute to improving preventive health behavior while psychological distress caused by the fear of COVID-19 tends to hinder preventive health behavior. It is recommended that public and private agencies should assist in promoting COVID-19 targeted education. Attention should also be focused on people’s mental health status as means of preventing COVID-19.

COVID-19 大流行与许多人面临的若干心理健康挑战有关。由于害怕感染 COVID-19 和从事预防行为，这些挑战也可能出现。本研究调查了创伤后应激症状和心理困扰在对 COVID-19 的恐惧与预防性健康行为之间的关系中的中介作用。1172 人的样本（平均年龄 = 22.9 岁，54.5% 为女性）参与了在线调查。相关分析表明，预防性健康行为与对 COVID-19 的恐惧和创伤后应激症状呈正相关，但与心理困扰呈负相关。进一步的分析表明，创伤后应激症状和心理困扰介导了对 COVID-19 的恐惧与预防性健康行为之间的关系。由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的创伤后应激症状可能有助于改善预防性健康行为，而由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的心理困扰往往会阻碍预防性健康行为。建议公共和私人机构应协助促进 COVID-19 针对性教育。作为预防 COVID-19 的手段，还应关注人们的心理健康状况。由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的创伤后应激症状可能有助于改善预防性健康行为，而由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的心理困扰往往会阻碍预防性健康行为。建议公共和私人机构应协助促进 COVID-19 针对性教育。作为预防 COVID-19 的手段，还应关注人们的心理健康状况。由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的创伤后应激症状可能有助于改善预防性健康行为，而由对 COVID-19 的恐惧引起的心理困扰往往会阻碍预防性健康行为。建议公共和私人机构应协助促进 COVID-19 针对性教育。作为预防 COVID-19 的手段，还应关注人们的心理健康状况。