Adaptive and Maladaptive Pathways of COVID-19 Worry on Well-Being: A Cross-National Study

Abstract

Can worrying about COVID-19 have positive consequences for well-being? In a preregistered study, we examined the effect of worries about COVID-19 on well-being through divergent associations with social interaction and depression. In August 2020, participants from high and low prevalence regions in the United States and Italy (N = 857) completed assessments of COVID-19 worry, social interaction, depression, and well-being. Worries about COVID-19 predicted both more social interaction and more depression. In mediational analyses, an adaptive pathway of COVID-19 worry through social interaction was associated with higher well-being, whereas a maladaptive pathway through depression was associated with lower well-being. Further, a comparison of high and low COVID-19 prevalence regions replicated the mediational findings for social interaction, providing evidence against reverse causation and common method variance. Findings suggest that normative worries about acute stressors can both benefit and undermine well-being, depending on their impact on social behavior or depression.

Happiness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A population-based longitudinal study

“…It should be noted that people living in smaller households may have found ways (e.g., texting, social media, and video calling) to compensate for the effects of containment measures such as stay-at-home orders, self-isolation, and social distancing [ 9 ]. Indeed, we have previously found evidence that worries about COVID-19 can contribute to well-being through increased social-affiliative behavior [ 30 ]. While living alone may contribute to loneliness, a higher number of household members may be associated with more interactions that are positive but also negative due to lack of privacy, needed time alone, and more conflict [ 33 ].…”

“…These interactions are widely shown to have main effects on well-being [ 25 , 26 ]. Because stressful conditions stimulate affiliative behavior [ 27 , 28 ], the availability of at least one close social partner could improve well-being, as suggested by psychosocial gains from adversity theory [ [29] , [30] , [31] ]. Consistent with this possibility, living alone in the early phase of the pandemic was a clear risk factor, increasing loneliness [ 5 ] and reducing well-being [ 32 ].…”