Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis
Psychological stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are complex and multifaceted. Research provides evidence of a COVID Stress Syndrome (CSS), consisting of (1) worry about the dangerousness of getting infected with SARSCoV2 and coming into contact with infected surfaces, (2) worry concerning th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632227/full |
| _version_ | 1818937042955927552 |
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| author | Steven Taylor Allan Fong Gordon J. G. Asmundson Gordon J. G. Asmundson |
| author_facet | Steven Taylor Allan Fong Gordon J. G. Asmundson Gordon J. G. Asmundson |
| author_sort | Steven Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Psychological stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are complex and multifaceted. Research provides evidence of a COVID Stress Syndrome (CSS), consisting of (1) worry about the dangerousness of getting infected with SARSCoV2 and coming into contact with infected surfaces, (2) worry concerning the personal socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19, (3) xenophobic fears that SARSCOV2 is being spread by foreigners, (4) COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms (e.g., nightmares), and (5) compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking about COVID-19. Little is known about how these symptoms are related to vulnerability and protective personality factors. Based on data from 1,976 US and Canadian adults, we conducted a prospective network analysis in which personality factors were initially assessed at Time 1 and then symptoms of the CSS were assessed at Time 2, 2.5 months later. Results indicated that trait optimism and trait resilience were negatively associated with negative emotionality, suggesting a modulatory (inhibitory) influence. Negative emotionality was positively linked to the narrower traits of intolerance of uncertainty and health anxiety proneness. These narrower traits, in turn, were prospectively linked to symptoms of the CSS. Results suggest that the effects of broad personality traits (e.g., negative emotionality, trait resilience) on symptoms of the CSS were mediated by narrower traits such as the intolerance of uncertainty. Treatment implications are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:45:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8fe24f2fc4404ce0afc3b5ddd2b3c1ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:45:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8fe24f2fc4404ce0afc3b5ddd2b3c1ff2022-12-21T19:51:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-04-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.632227632227Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network AnalysisSteven Taylor0Allan Fong1Gordon J. G. Asmundson2Gordon J. G. Asmundson3Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, CanadaPsychological stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are complex and multifaceted. Research provides evidence of a COVID Stress Syndrome (CSS), consisting of (1) worry about the dangerousness of getting infected with SARSCoV2 and coming into contact with infected surfaces, (2) worry concerning the personal socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19, (3) xenophobic fears that SARSCOV2 is being spread by foreigners, (4) COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms (e.g., nightmares), and (5) compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking about COVID-19. Little is known about how these symptoms are related to vulnerability and protective personality factors. Based on data from 1,976 US and Canadian adults, we conducted a prospective network analysis in which personality factors were initially assessed at Time 1 and then symptoms of the CSS were assessed at Time 2, 2.5 months later. Results indicated that trait optimism and trait resilience were negatively associated with negative emotionality, suggesting a modulatory (inhibitory) influence. Negative emotionality was positively linked to the narrower traits of intolerance of uncertainty and health anxiety proneness. These narrower traits, in turn, were prospectively linked to symptoms of the CSS. Results suggest that the effects of broad personality traits (e.g., negative emotionality, trait resilience) on symptoms of the CSS were mediated by narrower traits such as the intolerance of uncertainty. Treatment implications are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632227/fullCOVID-19COVID Stress Syndromepersonalityintolerance of uncertaintyhealth anxietyresilience |
| spellingShingle | Steven Taylor Allan Fong Gordon J. G. Asmundson Gordon J. G. Asmundson Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis Frontiers in Psychology COVID-19 COVID Stress Syndrome personality intolerance of uncertainty health anxiety resilience |
| title | Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis |
| title_full | Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis |
| title_short | Predicting the Severity of Symptoms of the COVID Stress Syndrome From Personality Traits: A Prospective Network Analysis |
| title_sort | predicting the severity of symptoms of the covid stress syndrome from personality traits a prospective network analysis |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID Stress Syndrome personality intolerance of uncertainty health anxiety resilience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632227/full |
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