The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemic-related mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing. The results showed high levels of psychological distress among the current sample. Generally, better knowledge of COVID-19 and engaging in protective behaviours were found to be related to lower levels of psychological distress, whereas increased risk perception was found to be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. It was also found that behaviour mediated the effect of knowledge on psychological wellbeing, suggesting that while publicising information about COVID-19 remains necessary, providing the public with a means to engage in protective behaviours is central for promoting psychological wellbeing.

本研究的目的是调查三个与 COVID-19 相关的变量（即风险感知、知识和行为）对与流行病相关的心理健康的四个指标（即焦虑、抑郁、孤独和绝望）的潜在作用）。共有 337 名参与者完成了四份自我报告问卷：世界卫生组织 COVID-19 行为洞察工具的选定分量表、加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表、状态-特质焦虑量表-特质量表、流行病学研究中心抑郁量表和贝克绝望量表. 除了描述性统计和相关性之外，结构方程模型还用于比较上述三个 COVID-19 相关变量可能在心理健康中发挥的潜在作用（预测因子或调节因子/中介因子）的三个模型。结果显示，当前样本中的心理困扰程度很高。一般而言，发现更好地了解 COVID-19 和参与保护行为与较低水平的心理困扰有关，而增加的风险感知与增加的孤独感、焦虑和抑郁感有关。还发现行为介导了知识对心理健康的影响，这表明虽然公开有关 COVID-19 的信息仍然是必要的，但为公众提供参与保护行为的手段对于促进心理健康至关重要。而增加的风险感知被发现与增加的孤独感、焦虑和抑郁感有关。还发现行为介导了知识对心理健康的影响，这表明虽然公开有关 COVID-19 的信息仍然是必要的，但为公众提供参与保护行为的手段对于促进心理健康至关重要。而增加的风险感知被发现与增加的孤独感、焦虑和抑郁感有关。还发现行为介导了知识对心理健康的影响，这表明虽然公开有关 COVID-19 的信息仍然是必要的，但为公众提供参与保护行为的手段对于促进心理健康至关重要。