COVID-19-Related Stressors and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms in a Northeast US Sample

Abstract

Research has linked specific COVID-19-related stressors to the mental health burden, yet most previous studies have examined only a limited number of stressors and have paid little attention to their clinical significance. This study tested the hypothesis that individuals who reported greater COVID-19-related stressors would be more likely to have elevated levels of anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and serious psychological distress. Methods: An online survey was administered to a convenience sample from 18 June to 19 July 2020, in US states that were most affected by COVID-19 infections and deaths at the time. Individuals who were 18 or older and residents of five Northeast US states were eligible to participate (N = 1079). In preregistered analyses, we used logistic regression models to test the associations of COVID-19 stressors with symptoms on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and K6, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results: COVID-19-related stressors (i.e., essential worker status, worry about COVID-19 infection, knowing someone hospitalized by COVID-19, having children under 14 at home, loneliness, barriers to environmental rewards, food insecurity, loss of employment) were associated with meeting thresholds (i.e., positive screening) for anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and/or serious psychological distress. Loneliness and barriers to environmental rewards were associated with all mental health outcomes. Limitations: We used a non-probability sample and cannot assume temporal precedence of stressors with regard to development of mental health symptoms. Conclusions: These findings link specific stressors to the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Procrastination and Stress: A Conceptual Review of Why Context Matters

“…This global public health crisis created disruption across a range of important life domains, leading to personal, societal, health-related, employment-related, and financial stressors [ 45 ]. Consistent with this proposition, a review of studies conducted during the early period of the pandemic found that procrastination increased in a number of different contexts, notably in academic settings [ 59 ]. For example, one study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic with a sample of almost 9000 university students found that higher perceived stress increased students’ procrastination [ 60 ].…”

“…As shown in Figure 2 , there were four key sources of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the looming health threats associated with the pandemic, and adjusting to new regulations for how to stay safe in public, many individuals experienced stress due to changes in their working routines, a decrease in their level of social interactions, changes in the delivery of academic work, and even threats to their financial security as a result of the pandemic [ 59 , 62 , 63 ]. For some individuals, the stress due to fears about becoming infected and from the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic became so extreme that some clinicians suggested that it reflected a new COVID stress syndrome [ 64 ].…”

The relationship between COVID-19 stress and test anxiety in art students: the chain mediating roles of intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality

“…Consequently, art students may experience heightened worries and uneasiness about the culture examination and art examination, which to some extent affects their test anxiety levels. On the other hand, the stress caused by COVID-19 may make individuals feel nervous and anxious [4]. Art students have higher stress levels and poorer mental health than non-art students [10].…”

“…COVID-19 has emerged as a significant health threat, posing a vital threat to the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals worldwide [1][2][3]. COVID-19 stress can lead to various physical and psychological problems in individuals such as depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and other problems [4,5]. For the students, the negative effects of COVID-19 stress are mainly related to academic stress and anxiety [6].…”

Testimonios de españoles amputados de extremidades durante el aislamiento social por la pandemia de la COVID 19: impactos en la movilidad física

“…La intolerancia a la incertidumbre y la exposición a los medios de comunicación son poderosos predictores del impacto (Sandín et al, 2020). Monnig et al (2023) han estudiado individuos que tenían 18 años o más en los cinco estados del nordeste de los Estados Unidos más afectadas por infecciones y muertes por COVID 19. La investigación ha relacionado factores estresantes específicos de la infección por Sars-coV-2 con la carga de salud mental.…”