Approach and Avoidance Coping Dynamics during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Catastrophe Theory
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Approach-avoidance conflicts are foundational in catastrophe theory.
• Empirical validation of the cusp catastrophe model for these dynamics is recent.
• This study extends the model to encompass approach and avoidance coping styles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on the cusp catastrophe model in approach-avoidance dynamics.
• To expand the application of the cusp catastrophe model to approach and avoidance coping styles.
• To investigate the relationship between coping styles, psychological symptoms, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 333 general population adults via Amazon Mechanical Turk.
• Administered measures of psychological symptoms, quality of life (QOL), coping styles (approach/avoidance), and COVID-related stress.
• Applied cusp catastrophe models to analyze symptom and QOL data, comparing with linear models.

Main Results:

• Cusp models for symptoms (R² = .84) and QOL (R² = .89) demonstrated approach-avoidance functioning as bifurcation gradients.
• Cusp models significantly outperformed linear models (R² = .54 and .24) in representing the data.
• Higher variability (hysteresis) in outcomes was observed in individuals using fewer approach or avoidance coping strategies.

Conclusions:

• The cusp catastrophe model is highly applicable to understanding approach-avoidance behaviors.
• The model provides a robust framework for analyzing psychological symptoms and quality of life.
• Limited use of either approach or avoidance coping styles is associated with less stable outcomes.