ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Empirical findings are needed to determine how the fear of COVID-19 might change in the context of different individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the moderating role of fatalism and psychological resilience on the effect of fear of COVID-19 on general mental health. METHODS: This study makes use of qualitative research methods that involved collecting data from 355 full-time waiters via questionnaires on online platforms. RESULT: The collected data suggests that the fear of COVID-19 has a significant negative impact on mental well-being. Morever, the data gathered for this study also indicates that the fear of COVID-19 infection differs significantly according to the fatalistic belief and psychological resilience levels of the waiters. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study indicate that the psychological effects of infectious diseases on individuals are not universal, but rather depend on the personal characteristics of individuals. It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to the reduction of negative effects associated with the general anxiety of pandemic that individuals experience.