Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work
Individuals with increased risk of being in contact with COVID-19 cases at work have been reported to suffer from higher fear of infection and associated mental health problems. The present study examines whether this risk is further increased by higher anxiety sensitivity (AS, i.e., fear of bodily...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915323000306 |
| _version_ | 1797844987379974144 |
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| author | Lara K. Autenrieth Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Christiane A. Pané-Farré |
| author_facet | Lara K. Autenrieth Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Christiane A. Pané-Farré |
| author_sort | Lara K. Autenrieth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Individuals with increased risk of being in contact with COVID-19 cases at work have been reported to suffer from higher fear of infection and associated mental health problems. The present study examines whether this risk is further increased by higher anxiety sensitivity (AS, i.e., fear of bodily symptoms such as breathlessness, which also are core symptoms of COVID-19) that is also known to be associated with an increased risk of psychopathology.In spring 2020, 783 German health care and social workers participated in a cross-sectional online-survey, in which anxiety sensitivity, depression, anxiety, health anxiety, fear of a COVID-19 infection as well as panic symptoms were assessed.Of these participants, 28.7% affirmed contact with COVID-19 cases, which was associated with greater fear of the virus. Individuals with high AS reported more severe anxiety, health anxiety, depressive symptoms, as well as incident and recurrent panic symptoms. Moreover, the risk association of exposure to COVID-19 cases at work with health anxiety, general anxiety, and panic symptoms was further increased by higher levels of AS. These findings suggest that especially employees with contact to COVID-19 cases who also are high in AS might profit from targeted interventions to prevent excessive fear and associated mental health problems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:32:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4aede650437846e4bd67d07b00b9711a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:32:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4aede650437846e4bd67d07b00b9711a2023-04-18T04:09:18ZengElsevierJournal of Affective Disorders Reports2666-91532023-04-0112100491Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at workLara K. Autenrieth0Christoph Benke1Eva Asselmann2Christiane A. Pané-Farré3Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg 35032, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg 35032, GermanyFaculty of Health, HMU Health and Medical University, Olympischer Weg 1, Potsdam 14471, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg 35032, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps University Marburg and Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, Marburg 35032, Germany.Individuals with increased risk of being in contact with COVID-19 cases at work have been reported to suffer from higher fear of infection and associated mental health problems. The present study examines whether this risk is further increased by higher anxiety sensitivity (AS, i.e., fear of bodily symptoms such as breathlessness, which also are core symptoms of COVID-19) that is also known to be associated with an increased risk of psychopathology.In spring 2020, 783 German health care and social workers participated in a cross-sectional online-survey, in which anxiety sensitivity, depression, anxiety, health anxiety, fear of a COVID-19 infection as well as panic symptoms were assessed.Of these participants, 28.7% affirmed contact with COVID-19 cases, which was associated with greater fear of the virus. Individuals with high AS reported more severe anxiety, health anxiety, depressive symptoms, as well as incident and recurrent panic symptoms. Moreover, the risk association of exposure to COVID-19 cases at work with health anxiety, general anxiety, and panic symptoms was further increased by higher levels of AS. These findings suggest that especially employees with contact to COVID-19 cases who also are high in AS might profit from targeted interventions to prevent excessive fear and associated mental health problems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915323000306Context-sensitivityPsychopathologyCorona virusPhysical concerns |
| spellingShingle | Lara K. Autenrieth Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Christiane A. Pané-Farré Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work Journal of Affective Disorders Reports Context-sensitivity Psychopathology Corona virus Physical concerns |
| title | Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work |
| title_full | Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work |
| title_fullStr | Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work |
| title_short | Anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting COVID-19 at work |
| title_sort | anxiety sensitivity elevates the risk of mental health problems in employees with higher probability of contacting covid 19 at work |
| topic | Context-sensitivity Psychopathology Corona virus Physical concerns |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915323000306 |
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