COVID stress syndrome: Concept, structure, and correlates
Steven Taylor1, Caeleigh A Landry2, Michelle M Paluszek2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Depression and Anxiety
|July 7, 2020
Summary
The COVID Stress Syndrome, a collection of fears and distress related to the pandemic, is primarily driven by fear of the virus's dangerousness. Some individuals exhibit severe symptoms requiring mental health services.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID Stress Scales identify five facets of distress: fear of virus dangerousness, socioeconomic worries, xenophobia, traumatic stress symptoms, and compulsive behaviors.
- These facets coalesce into a COVID stress syndrome, necessitating further investigation into its structure and correlates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the structure and correlates of the COVID stress syndrome.
- To understand the multifaceted nature of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A population-representative sample of 6,854 American and Canadian adults completed a self-report survey.
- Data collection included measures of mental health, COVID-19 experiences, distress, and coping strategies.
Main Results:
- Network analysis identified fear of COVID-19's dangerousness as the central feature of the syndrome.
- Latent class analysis revealed five classes of syndrome severity, with 16% of participants in the most severe class.
- Syndrome severity correlated with pre-existing psychopathology, excessive avoidance, panic buying, and coping difficulties.
Conclusions:
- The study provides novel insights into the structure and correlates of COVID stress syndrome.
- Further research is required to ascertain if the syndrome is transient or may become a chronic condition for some individuals.
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