The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to psychological distress among community samples and university students. Some coping behaviors and cognitive appraisals allow individuals to experience positive psychological growth amid such a crisis (Folkman et al. 1986). In the event of continuing waves...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266691532200018X |
| _version_ | 1818023486744952832 |
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| author | Gage M. Chu Pauline Goger Anne Malaktaris Ariel J. Lang |
| author_facet | Gage M. Chu Pauline Goger Anne Malaktaris Ariel J. Lang |
| author_sort | Gage M. Chu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to psychological distress among community samples and university students. Some coping behaviors and cognitive appraisals allow individuals to experience positive psychological growth amid such a crisis (Folkman et al. 1986). In the event of continuing waves of COVID-19 infection and future viral outbreaks, understanding the relationships between coping behaviors, stress appraisals, and COVID-related distress and growth can empower public health officials and university leadership to mitigate negative consequences and encourage growth. Methods: 774 undergraduate students completed online self-report measures of coping (Brief COPE; emotion, problem, avoidant), stress appraisal (SAM; threat/centrality, challenge/self-efficacy, uncontrol, other-control), neuroticism (NEON), health anxiety (SHAI), and COVID-19 exposure/impact (C-PIQ; distress and growth). Hypotheses were examined via simple regressions and interactions. Results: Increased utilization of avoidant coping was associated with high levels of distress regardless of whether it was perceived as threatening or not. Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies were associated with more growth, whereas avoidant coping was associated with less growth. Higher emotion-focused coping and challenge appraisal together predicted the most growth. Limitations: Cross-sectional design precludes the tracking of distress and growth over time; this study relied on self-report data. Conclusions: These results underscore the impact of stress appraisals on the mental health of students navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings may inform public health messaging–or have clinical implications, as successful interventions exist for improving coping strategies and stress appraisals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:45:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03c325c8c2bc4ac68af004a599235720 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:45:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-03c325c8c2bc4ac68af004a5992357202022-12-22T02:03:27ZengElsevierJournal of Affective Disorders Reports2666-91532022-04-018100325The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university studentsGage M. Chu0Pauline Goger1Anne Malaktaris2Ariel J. Lang3VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA; University of California San Diego (UCSD), 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Corresponding author at: University of California San Diego (UCSD), 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USA.VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA; San Diego State University (SDSU), USAVA San Diego Healthcare System, USA; University of California San Diego (UCSD), 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USA; VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, USAVA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, USA; University of California San Diego (UCSD), 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161, USABackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to psychological distress among community samples and university students. Some coping behaviors and cognitive appraisals allow individuals to experience positive psychological growth amid such a crisis (Folkman et al. 1986). In the event of continuing waves of COVID-19 infection and future viral outbreaks, understanding the relationships between coping behaviors, stress appraisals, and COVID-related distress and growth can empower public health officials and university leadership to mitigate negative consequences and encourage growth. Methods: 774 undergraduate students completed online self-report measures of coping (Brief COPE; emotion, problem, avoidant), stress appraisal (SAM; threat/centrality, challenge/self-efficacy, uncontrol, other-control), neuroticism (NEON), health anxiety (SHAI), and COVID-19 exposure/impact (C-PIQ; distress and growth). Hypotheses were examined via simple regressions and interactions. Results: Increased utilization of avoidant coping was associated with high levels of distress regardless of whether it was perceived as threatening or not. Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies were associated with more growth, whereas avoidant coping was associated with less growth. Higher emotion-focused coping and challenge appraisal together predicted the most growth. Limitations: Cross-sectional design precludes the tracking of distress and growth over time; this study relied on self-report data. Conclusions: These results underscore the impact of stress appraisals on the mental health of students navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings may inform public health messaging–or have clinical implications, as successful interventions exist for improving coping strategies and stress appraisals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266691532200018XCOVID-19Health threatDistressPost-traumatic growthCopingAppraisal |
| spellingShingle | Gage M. Chu Pauline Goger Anne Malaktaris Ariel J. Lang The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students Journal of Affective Disorders Reports COVID-19 Health threat Distress Post-traumatic growth Coping Appraisal |
| title | The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students |
| title_full | The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students |
| title_fullStr | The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students |
| title_short | The role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic among university students |
| title_sort | role of threat appraisal and coping style in psychological response to the covid 19 pandemic among university students |
| topic | COVID-19 Health threat Distress Post-traumatic growth Coping Appraisal |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266691532200018X |
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