Aim: To study the in/direct relationship between fear of COVID-19 contraction and academic stress during the first wave of the pandemic. Method: The sample consisted of 835 university students (597 female students, 71.5%, M = 22.71 years of age, SD = 3.69). Data were gathered online by the questionnaire of the international study The COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study (C19 ISWS). Results: An above-average level of academic stress and a below-average gender-related level of fear of contracting the virus were found. The relationship between fear of contracting the virus and academic stress was serially mediated by loneliness and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The findings stress the importance of monitoring the level of fear of virus contraction and the student-perceived perspective of academic achievement during actions taken by academic authorities to support the quality of teaching and students’ mental health.
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