TY - JOUR
AU - Mallett, Rebecca
AU - Coyle, Clodagh
AU - Kuang, Yingtu
AU - Gillanders, David T.
PY - 2021
DA - October
TI - Behind the masks: A cross-sectional study on intolerance of uncertainty, perceived vulnerability to disease and psychological flexibility in relation to anxiety and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
JO - Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
EP - 62
VL - 22
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.09.003
AB - As with previous pandemics, early findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures are having a negative impact on mental wellbeing. This study compared the contribution of three factors to anxiety and wellbeing during the pandemic in June 2020. These factors were: i) Contextual factors (e.g. exposure to COVID-19, being a key worker, feeling lonely, etc); ii) Cognitive appraisals: perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU); and iii) psychological flexibility (PF). 603 participants aged 18 or older completed an online survey of self-report measures. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated PVD, IU and PF predicted state anxiety, and IU and PF predicted mental wellbeing. Some, but not all of the contextual factors also predicted anxiety and wellbeing. The findings support cognitive appraisal theories and the PF model, lending support to an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approach to public health during pandemics.
PB - Elsevier
UR - https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/27e5b46f-499a-469f-a26e-55d0de53d39e
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Mental health and wellbeing
ER