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Increased Risk Perception, Distress Intolerance and Health Anxiety in Stricter Lockdowns: Self-Control as a Key
Christoph Lindner1,2, Ibolya Kotta3, Eszter Eniko Marschalko3
1Faculty of Education, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
Summary
Strict COVID-19 lockdowns increased distress and health anxiety more than mild ones. Self-control emerged as a key protective factor against negative mental health impacts during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Initial COVID-19 lockdowns correlated with heightened distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
- Understanding the impact of varying lockdown stringency on mental health is crucial for future public health strategies.
- The role of psychological protective factors in mitigating lockdown-related mental health issues requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the mental health effects of strict versus mild COVID-19 lockdown measures.
- To examine the influence of protective psychological factors on mental health outcomes during different lockdown conditions.
- To identify the most effective protective factors against pandemic-related stressors.
Main Methods:
- Merged objective lockdown stringency data with individual survey data (N=1001) from Romania (strict) and Hungary (mild) between March-May 2020.
- Assessed differences in perceived infection risk, distress intolerance, health anxiety, and mental health symptoms.
- Evaluated the impact of lockdown measures on psychological protective factors, including self-control, psychological flexibility, and resilient coping.
Main Results:
- Stricter lockdown conditions (Romania) were associated with higher perceived infection risk, distress intolerance, and COVID-19 health anxiety.
- Protective psychological factors remained unaffected by the stringency of lockdown measures.
- Self-control demonstrated the strongest protective effect, surpassing psychological flexibility and resilient coping.
Conclusions:
- Lockdown stringency significantly influences perceived risk and mental health symptoms, with stricter measures posing greater risks.
- Self-control is a critical psychological factor for mitigating negative mental health consequences during public health crises.
- Future research should integrate objective and individual data to inform policy and interventions aimed at supporting mental well-being during lockdowns.
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