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1.
Alcohol Alcohol ; 59(3)2024 Mar 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38545913

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: social isolation and forced quarantines during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a steep and persistent rise in alcohol consumption among US adults. While the association between loneliness and drinking is well established, less is known about the impact of social isolation (a known correlate of loneliness) and the interplay between these two variables in relation to drinking. METHODS: we recruited US adults using the MTurk platform for an online survey in early April 2020. The initial survey was followed up with a second wave, 30 days later in mid to late May. Data from the current analyses focus on this second wave of data collection. RESULTS: we found significant direct effects on heavy drinking for both social isolation (c' = 0.495; P < .01) and loneliness (b = 0.071; P < .05). We also found a significant indirect path from social isolation to heavy drinking through social isolation's impact on elevating loneliness (a = 0.919; P < .001). The indirect effect of social isolation on the composite measure of heavy drinking was 0.0652 (0.919 × 0.071) and was significant at the 0.05 level after bootstrapping estimates of the variance were constructed. CONCLUSIONS: those most isolated early in the pandemic were at increased risk for heavy drinking, in part because their social isolation led to increased loneliness. Post-pandemic research is needed to explore whether the relationships that stemmed from social isolation during the pandemic led to a persistent pattern of behavioral risk that maintained high rates of heavy drinking.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Loneliness , Adult , Humans , Pandemics , Social Isolation , COVID-19/epidemiology , Data Collection
2.
Prev Sci ; 2024 Jun 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38862829

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 Stressors Scale measures individuals' appraisals of stressors related to the pandemic. Measurement of perceptions of stressors is necessary to understand the socioemotional impacts of not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but other disasters. The study examined the factor structure of the scale among adults in the U.S. over six time points. A shortened version was used, and the fit was examined over time. The results of the study show contextual appraisals change over time and offer important implications for the measurement of stressfulness of disasters, a critical step in designing and assessing impacts of social programs aimed to reduce the deleterious effects of disasters.

3.
Int J Stress Manag ; 31(2): 130-147, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39380747

ABSTRACT

Stress exposure often leads to poor mental health, but whether certain types of stressors predict differential levels of mental health symptoms and whether coping differentially moderates these associations remain untested. This study examined whether COVID-19 stressor types (financial-, activity-, and infection-related) differentially predicted subsequent mental health (general distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and positive states of mind) and whether different types of coping moderated these relationships. In April, 2020, questionnaires assessing the impact of COVID-19 on daily life were administered to an adult sample across the US (N = 1,546); 861 (55.7%) of whom completed questionnaires one month later. Nearly all stressor types independently predicted each aspect of mental health. Behavioral disengagement moderated links between both activity- and infection-related stressors and mental health. Seeking emotional social support moderated links between infection-related stressors and both general distress and positive states of mind as well as activity-related stressors and general distress. Positive reappraisal moderated links between financial-related stressors and positive states of mind. Acceptance coping predicted better mental health but was not a significant moderator. Stressor types and coping strategies are important determinants of effects of COVID-19 on mental health; our findings suggest possible screening and intervention implications and directions for future research.

4.
Behav Med ; 49(4): 352-361, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35538743

ABSTRACT

Social media use increased early in the Covid-19 pandemic, but little information is available about its impact. The present study examined associations of frequency of use of different social media and the motives for use with subsequent social well-being and mental health. Data were gathered on a nationwide sample of 843 Americans during the first wave of lockdowns and infections in mid-April 2020, and again five weeks later. Participants were adults ages 20 to 88 years old (M = 39.3 years old) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Controlling for age and gender, greater frequency of Facebook and video chat app use predicted higher levels social support but also higher levels of cumulative Covid-19-related stress appraisals and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Greater use of video chat apps also predicted less loneliness. Greater use of both Instagram and Snapchat predicted more anxiety and cumulative Covid-19-related stress appraisals. Greater use of Instagram also predicted higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Motives for use (e.g., connect with others, waste time/avoid responsibility, online video gaming with others) also differentially predicted social well-being and mental health. Results indicate that greater social media use early in the pandemic was often associated with more distress and lower levels of social well-being but, effects varied depending on types, frequency, and motivations for use. Overall, the study revealed that social media use related to social well-being and mental health in complex ways.

5.
Palliat Support Care ; : 1-9, 2023 Nov 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37997433

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, additional risk factors affecting family caregivers' mental health have arisen. Therefore, personal stress coping strategies and family dynamics became important factors in reducing the impact of the pandemic on family caregivers' mental health. The present research aimed to estimate the association between COVID-19 stressors and family caregiving burden. Moreover, moderating effects of emotion dysregulation and family functioning on this association were investigated. METHODS: This study analyzed data collected in April 2021 from 154 family caregivers (Mage = 38.79, SDage = 9.36, range = 22-64) recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden was tested, and moderating impacts of emotion dysregulation and family functioning were also investigated. RESULTS: Both COVID-19 stress exposure and stress appraisal were positively associated with family caregiving burden. Emotion dysregulation and problematic family functioning were also positively associated with family caregiving burden. A significant moderating effect of emotion dysregulation was found, such that family caregivers with higher emotion dysregulation were likely to feel more caregiving burden when they experienced more COVID-19 stressors. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The current research highlighted the role of emotion regulation in reducing the negative impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden. The research also emphasizes the need for intervention programs to improve emotion regulation strategies to decrease family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

6.
BMC Geriatr ; 22(1): 48, 2022 01 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35022022

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the known benefits of non-sedentary behavior, physical activity, and protein and caloric intake to health and muscle mass, strength, and function, many older adults do not meet physical activity and dietary recommendations. A better understanding of the factors associated with sedentary behavior, physical activity and dietary self-management behaviors, and muscle outcomes (muscle mass, strength, and function) is needed, particularly among continuing care retirement community residents. The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with sedentary behavior, physical activity and dietary self-management behaviors, and muscle outcomes among continuing care retirement community residents. It also aimed to determine whether sedentary behavior and physical activity and dietary self-management behaviors mediate the relationships between self-efficacy, goal congruence, aging expectations, social support, and muscle outcomes. METHODS: A sample of 105 continuing care retirement community residents (age > 70 years) participated in this correlational, cross-sectional study. Questionnaires on pain, self-efficacy, goal congruence, aging expectation, social support, and daily protein and caloric intake were administered. Physical activity and sedentary behavior (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT), muscle mass (ImpediMed SFB7), muscle strength (Jamar Smart Digital Hand Dynamometer), and muscle function (Short Physical Performance Battery) were measured. Multiple regression, logistic regression, and mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: Low goal congruence predicted engagement in sedentary behavior and light physical activity. Higher levels of self-efficacy and social support were associated with increased likelihoods of achieving greater moderate physical activity and meeting daily recommendations for caloric intake, respectively. Self-efficacy and goal congruence predicted muscle function and strength. Moreover, sedentary behavior and achieving greater moderate physical activity were found to partially but significantly mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and muscle function. CONCLUSION: Future research should evaluate whether attempts to reduce sedentary behavior and promote physical activity and dietary self-management behaviors and muscle outcomes are more successful when modifications to the self-management process factors are also targeted.


Subject(s)
Sedentary Behavior , Self-Management , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Exercise , Humans , Muscles , Retirement
7.
J Clin Psychol ; 78(2): 357-374, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34331773

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The negative mental health impact of coronavirus disease 2019-related stressors may be heightened for those caring for children, who bear responsibity for their welfare during disasters. AIM: Based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, we inquired whether caregivers' emotion regulation and coping behavior were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). MATERIALS & METHODS: Data were collected through a national online survey in April 2020, and again 60 days later. RESULTS: Of the 801 longitudinal cases, 176 (63.6% female; mean age = 33.5) reported caring for minors in their homes during the pandemic. Over 20% of caregivers experienced clinically concerning PTSS, rates higher than their noncaregiving counterparts. Regression analysis indicates caregivers' baseline mental health symptoms and emotion regulation predicted PTSS 60 days later. DISCUSSION: Implications for needed parenting supports among families experiencing traumatic stress are provided. CONCLUSION: Anxiety symptoms at baseline were the most significant and consistent contributor to all models and were significantly higher among those with clinically concerning levels of PTSS suggesting a clear intervention target.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Emotional Regulation , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Caregivers/psychology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Health , SARS-CoV-2 , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology
8.
J Soc Pers Relat ; 39(11): 3415-3435, 2022 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39371043

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented challenges and demands for parents or caregivers of children who experienced disruptions in social support and feelings of isolation. Mindful emotion regulation may be a resilient factor for parents' psychosocial outcomes. Mindful emotion regulation refers to individuals' inherent capacities to regulate emotions mindfully, i.e., through paying attention to one's experiences in the present moment nonjudgmentally. Based on the theoretical and empirical literature associating mindful emotion regulation with loneliness and perceived social support, the current study tested the effects of mindful emotion regulation on later changes in perceived social support and loneliness in U.S. parents during the pandemic. Participants were 147 parents/caregivers who were living with at least one child or adolescent in their household during the pandemic in the USA. Data were collected from a national online sample at four time points: baseline (April 7-21, 2020), 30-, 60-, and 90-days later. Results of longitudinal mediational structural equation modeling showed that mindful emotion regulation was directly associated with increased perceived social support and decreased loneliness. Moreover, mindful emotion regulation was also associated with perceived social support indirectly through its effects on loneliness. Focusing on the needs of parents is important for promoting family and child wellbeing to ameliorate negative health consequences. More research is needed to elucidate whether and how mindful emotion regulation may be beneficial for parents in the social relationship domain.

9.
Subst Use Misuse ; 56(7): 1018-1023, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33843448

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the current opioid overdose epidemic, treatment retention among clients receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence is a significant and growing concern among treatment providers, policymakers, and researchers. Methods: We examined a sample of clients enrolled in a federally funded MAT expansion program implemented in four sites in Connecticut. Program participants received MAT for their opioid use disorders (OUDs). All program sites utilized a person in recovery from OUD (a recovery support coach, RSC) as part of the treatment team. By performing bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models, we evaluated the association of 6-month retention and program site, gender, age, race/ethnicity, and past month substance use. Results: At 6-month follow-up, 58.9% of participants were classified as "retained." Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who were older, reported no past month cocaine/crack use, or reported any illegal drug use other than cocaine/crack, were significantly more likely to be retained in treatment at follow-up. Conclusions: Retention rates were relatively high in these Connecticut sites compared to those examined in previous literature. Findings suggest that efforts for enhancing retention and successful treatment outcomes need to consider and potentially address the unique needs, problems, and risks of younger clients and clients with crack/cocaine involvement. The importance of drug use screening for those entering MAT is underscored. Future research needs to explore how levels of client involvement in adjunctive therapies may impact their retention.


Subject(s)
Drug Overdose , Opioid-Related Disorders , Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Connecticut , Drug Overdose/drug therapy , Humans , Opiate Substitution Treatment , Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy
10.
Subst Abus ; 42(2): 220-226, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34010118

ABSTRACT

Background: We sought to understand the association between heavy alcohol and frequent drug use and non-adherence to recommended social distancing and personal hygiene guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 early in the US pandemic. Methods: A survey was offered on the crowdsourcing platform, Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) during April 2020 (the early days of strict, social distancing restrictions). The study included 1,521 adults ages 18 years and older who resided in the US and were enrolled as MTurk workers, i.e., workers who are qualified by Amazon to complete a range of human interaction tasks, including surveys through the MTurk worker platform. Main predictors included measures of heavy drinking, marijuana, and polysubstance use. The dependent measures were measures of social distancing and personal hygiene, based on guidelines recommended at the time of the survey by the US Centers for Disease Control to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Results: We found consistent negative associations between heavy drinking and drug use and adherence to social distancing and personal hygiene. Additionally, three control variables, age, gender, and race/ethnicity, were significant correlates of adherence to these measures. Conclusions: The findings here are consistent with previous research exploring links between substance use and other adverse health behaviors. Further, the negative association between heavy drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting) and adherence underscore the public health risks entailed with the unrestricted reopening of public drinking establishments.


Subject(s)
Alcoholism/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Hygiene , Marijuana Abuse/epidemiology , Physical Distancing , Public Health , Public Policy , Adolescent , Adult , Communicable Disease Control , Female , Hand Hygiene/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , SARS-CoV-2 , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , United States , Young Adult
11.
J Gen Intern Med ; 35(8): 2296-2303, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32472486

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Documenting Americans' stress responses to an unprecedented pandemic and their degree of adherence to CDC guidelines is essential for mental health interventions and policy-making. OBJECTIVE: To provide the first snapshot of immediate impact of COVID-19 on Americans' stress, coping, and guideline adherence. DESIGN: Data were collected from an online workers' platform for survey research (Amazon's Mechanical Turk) from April 7 to 9, 2020. The current data represents the baseline of a longitudinal study. Best practices for ensuring high-quality data were employed. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who are 18 years of age or older, living in the USA, and English-speaking were eligible for the study. Of 1086 unique responses, 1015 completed responses are included. SETTING: Population-based. MAIN OUTCOMES: Exposure to and stressfulness of COVID-19 stressors, coping strategies, and adherence to CDC guidelines. RESULTS: The sample was 53.9% women (n = 547), with an average age of 38.9 years (SD = 13.50, range = 18-88), most of whom were White (n = 836, 82.4%), non-Hispanic (n = 929, 91.5%), and straight/heterosexual (n = 895, 88.2%); 40% were currently married (n = 407), and 21.6% (n = 219) were caregivers. About half (50.5%) endorsed having at least "mostly" enough money to meet their needs. Respondents' locations across the USA ranged from 18.5% in the Northeast to 37.8% in the South. The most commonly experienced stressors were reading/hearing about the severity and contagiousness of COVID-19, uncertainty about length of quarantine and social distancing requirements, and changes to social and daily personal care routines. Financial concerns were rated most stressful. Younger age, female gender, and caregiver status increased risk for stressor exposure and greater degree of stressfulness. The most frequently reported strategies to manage stress were distraction, active coping, and seeking emotional social support. CDC guideline adherence was generally high, but several key social distancing and hygiene behaviors showed suboptimal adherence, particularly for men and younger adults. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Americans have high COVID-19 stress exposure and some demographic subgroups appear particularly vulnerable to stress effects. Subgroups less likely to adhere to CDC guidelines may benefit from targeted information campaigns. these findings may guide mental health interventions and inform policy-making regarding implications of specific public health measures.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Coronavirus Infections , Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Stress, Psychological , Adult , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S./standards , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S./statistics & numerical data , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Coronavirus Infections/psychology , Female , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/psychology , Public Health/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiology
12.
Subst Use Misuse ; 53(8): 1324-1330, 2018 07 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29297725

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to understand how pharmacists viewed and used a newly implemented prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). We also sought to understand pharmacist orientation toward dispensing of controlled substances and the people who obtain them. METHODS: We conducted three mini focus groups. The focus group findings were used to inform the design of a structured survey. We emailed a survey to 160 pharmacists who were employed in one statewide community chain store; we obtained 48 survey responses. RESULTS: Focus groups findings suggested that, in relation to the dispensing of scheduled prescription medication, pharmacists were either "healthcare" oriented, "law-enforcement" oriented, or an orientation that combined these two perspectives. Surveys suggested that pharmacists found PDMPs easy to use and that they used them frequently - often to contact physicians directly. Surveys suggested that pharmacists were typically either "healthcare" oriented or "mixed" (combined perspectives). Pharmacist orientation was associated with the frequency with which they counseled patients about medication risk and the frequency with which they used the PDMP as the basis for contacting prescribers. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing tracking of pharmacists' use of PDMPs is important both at the implementation stage and as PDMPs develop over time. The orientation construct developed here is useful in understanding pharmacist behavior and attitudes towards patients potentially at risk for misuse of controlled substance medications. Further research on this construct could shed light on barriers and incentives for pharmacist PDMP participation and use and provide guidance for pharmacist training, ultimately enhancing patient care.


Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Controlled Substances , Pharmacists , Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs , Humans
13.
Drug Alcohol Depend Rep ; 10: 100221, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38425420

ABSTRACT

Introduction: For adults involved with the criminal justice system who are reentering their communities post-incarceration, there is a large need for community-based substance use treatment. Little is known, however, about the types, availability, and benefits of programs targeting the reentry population in community settings that operate independently from the criminal justice system. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of community-based treatment programs for substance use among reentering justice-involved adults to examine the contemporary state of literature and identify research gaps. We searched four databases for peer-reviewed articles conducted in the United States and published between 2017 and 2021. Results: The final sample included 58 articles. Interventions varied, but the two most prominent were medications for opioid use disorder (35%) and peer support or social support interventions (22.4%). Studies were more likely to show positive impact on substance use outcomes than criminal justice outcomes. Themes were identified around participant characteristics, treatment delivery, and treatment benefits. Conclusions: Findings from this scoping review suggest that the range of evidence-based strategies for substance use treatment targeting the reentry population is growing, but there is a need for additional research that examines implementation, cost effectiveness, and racial/ethnic disparities.

14.
Anxiety Stress Coping ; 36(6): 661-673, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36592338

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: People commonly report positive changes following stressful experiences (perceived posttraumatic growth; PPTG), yet whether PPTG validly reflects positive changes remains unestablished. DESIGN AND METHODS: We tested the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic-related PPTG relates to positive changes in corresponding psychosocial resources in a national US sample participating in a five wave study (T1-T5), focusing here on T2-T5: ns = 712-860. We examined correlations between resource change (both latent and observed difference scores) and PPTG at each occasion and conducted structural equation models to separate occasion-specific and stable (traitlike) PPTG variance. We related changes in resources to occasion-specific and stable PPTG components. RESULTS: Associations between change scores and occasion-specific PPTG were sparse, providing limited evidence of PPTG validity. Associations between change scores and stable PPTG tended to be positive and stronger than associations for occasion-specific PPTG. DISCUSSION: Perceptions of growth were largely unrelated to experienced positive changes and thus appear to be largely illusory. However, a personality-like tendency to believe one grows from stressful experiences relates more strongly to actual resource growth. These results suggest that people are not accurate reporters of positive changes they experience and that interventions aimed at promoting post-traumatic growth may be premature.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus , Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological , Humans , Pandemics
15.
J Behav Health Serv Res ; 50(1): 68-79, 2023 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35426011

ABSTRACT

Little is known about factors that contribute to mental health help-seeking during disasters beyond attitudes toward counseling. The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic dramatically impacted individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The pandemic led to significant disruptions to family routines, and evidence suggests an increase in instances of mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety, and poor utilization of mental health services. To better understand psychological factors associated with help-seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers surveyed respondents (n = 1,533 at time 1) about their mental health and help-seeking using Amazon's MTurk platform. The results indicated that individuals with higher levels of anxiety rate their likelihood of help-seeking as higher and those who do seek psychological help report higher levels of depression. Further, those who began new treatment for behavioral health difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic reported lower social support and less clarity about how they felt (specifically, emotional clarity when upset). Implications for clinical researchers and public health are discussed.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Emotional Regulation , Humans , Mental Health , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Anxiety/psychology , Social Support , Depression/psychology
17.
J Psychiatr Res ; 146: 179-185, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34995993

ABSTRACT

Perceiving that one has grown in positive ways following highly stressful experiences (perceived posttraumatic growth; PPTG) is common and sometimes--but not always--related to psychological wellbeing. However, PPTG is typically studied cross-sectionally and well after the stressful experience has passed; how PPTG might relate to wellbeing over time in an unprecedented, ongoing worldwide disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown. Thus, the current study sought to answer whether, in the midst of the pandemic, PPTG relates to subsequent wellbeing, broadly defined. Participants were N = 1544 MTurk workers who completed a five-wave (T1-T5) six-month longitudinal study. Current analyses focused on T2-T5 (ns = 860-712). At each time point, participants completed self-report measures of PPTG and wellbeing (depression, anxiety, stress, positive states of mind, alcohol use, posttraumatic stress). In cross-lagged panel models, PPTG was largely unrelated to subsequent wellbeing. Somewhat more evidence was found that increasing distress led to increases in PPTG, suggesting perceptions of growth may serve as a coping mechanism. PPTG does not appear to benefit adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic and may simply reflect efforts to manage distress.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological , Emotional Adjustment , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology
18.
Psychol Trauma ; 14(4): 705-713, 2022 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34383521

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Research from the early months of the SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic identifies many COVID-related stressors, including fears of infection, disruptions to work/learning and daily self-care routines, and lack of access to reliable information and resources. Measuring the complex, ongoing nature of the stressors related to COVID-19 is of great practical utility, as is investigating how people may differently respond to stressors. The objective of the present study was to identify the possible profiles of COVID-19-related stressors using a recently developed measure, the COVID-19 Stressors Scale. METHOD: The present study sampled individuals from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk; n = 1,530) and examined the COVID-19 Stressors Scale with a latent profile analysis. RESULTS: Using a latent profile analysis, three profiles of COVID-19-related stressors were identified, Moderate Disruption Distress, High Disruption Distress, and Identity and Role Strain. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the study, the authors encourage researchers to differentiate types of stressors profiles of individual experiences COVID-19 or future pandemics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Fear , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2
19.
Am Psychol ; 76(5): 715-728, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34081505

ABSTRACT

Spreading rapidly across the United States beginning in the spring of 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic radically disrupted Americans' lives. Previous studies of community-wide disasters suggested people are fairly resilient and identified resources and strategies that promote that resilience. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic is in some ways unique, with high levels of uncertainty, evolving implications and restrictions, and varied and uneven impacts. How resilient were Americans as the pandemic progressed? What psychosocial resources and coping strategies facilitated adjustment as the country moved into a summer of uneven reopenings and reclosures? Data from a national sample of 674 Americans were gathered at the height of early lockdowns and peaking infections in mid-April, 2020, and again, 5 and 10 weeks later. The study aimed to determine levels and sources of distress and to identify the resources and coping efforts that promoted or impeded resilience. Early levels of distress diminished to some extent over subsequent months while levels of wellbeing were comparable with usual norms, suggesting a largely resilient response. COVID-19-related stress exposure also decreased gradually over time. Older age, higher levels of mindfulness and social support, and meaning focused coping predicted better adjustment, reflecting resilience, while avoidance coping was particularly unhelpful. In models predicting change over time, approach-oriented coping (i.e., active coping, meaning-focused coping, and seeking social support) was minimally predictive of subsequent adjustment. Given the unique and ongoing circumstances presented by COVID-19, specific interventions targeting psychosocial resources and coping identified here may help to promote resilience as the pandemic continues to unfold. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , COVID-19 , Resilience, Psychological , COVID-19/psychology , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Mindfulness , Pandemics , Social Support , United States
20.
Psychol Trauma ; 13(4): 422-431, 2021 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33507795

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The rapid emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States has dramatically altered daily life and taken a toll on Americans' physical, mental, social, and financial well-being. Based on previous widespread disasters, future high prevalence of short- and long-term adverse mental health consequences are anticipated. Studies of COVID-19 outside the United States indicated moderately high levels of distress, but we have little information regarding Americans' distress nor the factors associated with relative distress or adjustment during this unprecedented time. This study represents the first national view of Americans' distress during the massive disruption of COVID-19 and identifies levels of stress exposure, protective psychosocial resources, and coping strategies. METHOD: Data were collected April 7-9, 2020 from an online platform, using best practices for ensuring high-quality data; 1,015 completed respondents are included ([53.9%] women; average age = 38.9 years; mostly White [82.4%] and non-Hispanic [91.5%]). Respondents' locations ranged across the United States, from 18.5% in the Northeast to 37.8% in the South. RESULTS: Fairly high levels of stress exposure and peritraumatic and general distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) were reported. Emotion regulation skills along with active and distraction coping emerged as the strongest predictors of lower distress levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify potential targets for online mental health interventions-focusing on engaging in adaptive emotion regulation and coping (e.g., through telehealth mental health first aid)-during the pandemic to offset the likely rise in distress over the months ahead. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , COVID-19/psychology , Mental Health , Pandemics , Psychological Distress , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Young Adult
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