Taking care with self-care during COVID-19: Affect-behavior associations during early stages of the pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Disabato ◽  
Pallavi Aurora ◽  
Pooja Gupta Sidney ◽  
Jennifer M Taber ◽  
Clarissa A. Thompson ◽  
...  

Although evidence exists for a feedback loop between positive affect and self-care behaviors, it is unclear if findings generalize to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 10-day daily diary was completed by 324 adult participants in the United States during spring 2020 when national stay-at-home orders were in effect. We hypothesized a reciprocal within-person process whereby positive affect increased self-care behaviors (Aim 1) and self-care behaviors increased positive affect (Aim 2). Lagged analyses for Aim 1 indicated that greater negative affect, rather than positive affect, predicted increased self-care behaviors from one day to the next day. For Aim 2, concurrent analyses, but not lagged analyses, indicated self-care behaviors was associated with more positive affect and less negative affect afterwards. We discuss the ways negative affect might function differently than normal during stressful environments and conclude self-care behaviors continue to have only a short-term (within a day) impact on positive and negative affect.

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095769
Author(s):  
Lucy Finkelstein-Fox ◽  
Crystal L. Park ◽  
Tania B. Huedo-Medina

Sexual victimization (SV) history is common among college students and has many adverse effects on health, but little is known about whether these effects are explained by everyday stress and coping. Further, most studies conflate between- and within-person effects, limiting our understanding of distinct trait- versus state-level pathways. To address these gaps, we examined the multilevel association of SV history with contemporary positive and negative affect and somatic symptoms via daily control appraisals and coping (problem-focused, meaning-focused, and avoidance) with daily stressors. Online daily diary surveys assessed stress, appraisals, coping, affect, and somatization among 261 undergraduates with and without SV history over 11 consecutive days. Between- and within-person differences in appraisals, coping, affect, and somatic symptoms were examined using multilevel covariance modeling in a causal system, testing daily stressor type as a moderator of within-person effects. Across days, SV history was indirectly linked only to average positive affect via meaning-focused coping, with no other between-person indirect effects. At the within-person level, greater negative affect was experienced in the context of interpersonal stress, driven by greater problem-focused coping, greater positive affect was experienced in the context of academic stress, driven by greater control appraisals, and less positive and negative affect were experienced in the context of intrapersonal stress, driven by lower control appraisals and less problem-focused coping. SV may influence daily stress processes at multiple levels, depending on stressor type. Appraised control and active coping are potentially important but understudied ways in which SV history informs contemporary stress management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Wierenga ◽  
S.E Moore ◽  
D.M Fresco

Abstract Introduction The World Health Organization recommends moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for 150 minutes per week to reduce the risk of primary or secondary cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Adherence to these recommendations is only around 30% in the US. Identifying reliable barriers or facilitators of time spent in MVPA is a critical component to primary and secondary CVD prevention. Negative affect, including feelings such as being sad, nervous, and restless, is known to diminish time spent in MVPA, whereas positive affect, which includes feelings such as being calm, happy, or full of life is associated with MVPA increases. Relatedly, variability in positive but not negative affect is associated with poorer physical health. What is unclear is how intra-individual variability of positive and negative affect may influence MVPA. Research question What is the influence of variations (i.e. intra-individual day-to-day) in positive and negative affect on variations in MVPA? Method. Guided by the individual and self-management theory, a secondary analysis was conducted of data from a nationwide US sample of participants. Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresh Wave Study Daily Diary Project, we analyzed eight consecutive days of affect and MVPA assessments in a sample of 553 healthy participants (54% women, 86% white, mean age = 48.7 years). Latent trajectory models were computed to determine the influence of daily positive and negative affect on daily MVPA. Results Affect variability, calculated as the standard deviation of daily positive and negative affect, was positively correlated with MVPA variability. An autoregressive cross-lagged latent trajectory model provided the best fit to examine relationships between positive affect, negative affect, and MVPA (χ2=946.54, df=379, p<0.001; CFI=0.95; RMSEA=0.05, SRMR = 0.06). Positive, but not negative affect, intercepts were significantly correlated with MVPA trajectories (r=0.19, p<0.05). Individuals who initially begin the eight day time span with a higher reported positive affect show a modest increase in MVPA over the same time period (r=0.19, p<0.001). By contrast, individuals evidencing increases in positive affect over the time span showed a decreased rate of change in MVPA over that same time (r=−0.32, p<0.001). Conclusion The association of positive affect to MVPA necessitates a complex analysis to more fully understand intra-individual-level interactions. Relatively higher positive affect with fewer fluctuations was associated with greater MVPA. These intriguing preliminary findings must be considered in light of important limitations (e.g., only eight days of data; affect and MVPA do not necessarily follow diurnal patterns). Still, findings support the view that beginning with positive affect may lead to stability in time spent in MVPA. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Author(s):  
Jianwei Deng ◽  
Yuangeng Guo ◽  
Hubin Shi ◽  
Yongchuang Gao ◽  
Xuan Jin ◽  
...  

This study aimed to examine how perceived everyday discrimination influences presenteeism and how conscientiousness moderates the relationship between discrimination and positive affect among older workers. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the mediating effect. The moderated mediation model was examined by PROCESS. The results of the final SEM model showed that discrimination was directly positively associated with presenteeism. Furthermore, positive affect was significantly inversely correlated with discrimination and presenteeism. In addition, negative affect was significantly positively correlated with discrimination and presenteeism. The significant indirect effect between perceived everyday discrimination and positive affect was significantly mediated by positive and negative affect. In addition, the results of the moderated mediation model indicate that positive affect was more likely to be influenced by perceived everyday discrimination among older workers with less conscientiousness, as compared with those with greater conscientiousness. To enhance work outcomes of aging workers in the United States, managers should foster highly conscientious aging workers, award those who are hardworking and goal-oriented, and combine personal goals and organizational goals through bonuses, holidays, and benefits. Policymakers should be mindful of the negative impact of discrimination on presenteeism and should target lowly conscientious older workers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S655-S655
Author(s):  
Jungmin Lee ◽  
Sara B W Troutman ◽  
Victoria Gertel ◽  
Peter Molenaar ◽  
David M Almeida

Abstract The purpose of the present study is to examine whether positive affect and negative affect can predict the changes in cognitive abilities, assessed by episodic memory and executive functioning, during the transition to late adulthood. Using the longitudinal data from the national survey of midlife development in the United States (MIDUS), this study implements a cross-lagged panel model to test the significance of two pathways; one from affect to cognition and the other in the opposite direction. The results show the three main findings: First, the relationship between affect and cognition is unidirectional in which only positive affect and negative affect during the first occasion significantly predict episodic memory in the second occasion. Second, regardless of the type of affect, higher levels of both positive and negative affect predicts worse episodic memory and this tendency is more prominent in older adults. The combined results emphasize the benefits of using affect as a predictor of changes in the specific types of cognition and suggest using the longitudinal model to account for complex relationships between these psychological constructs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 287-287
Author(s):  
Deepan Guharajan ◽  
Roee Holtzer

Abstract Aging populations are at increased risk to experience mobility disability, which is associated with falls, frailty, and mortality. Previous studies have not examined the concurrent associations of both positive and negative affect with gait velocity. We examined whether individual differences in positive and negative affect predicted dual-task performance decrements in velocity in a dual-task (DT) paradigm in non-demented older adults. We hypothesize that positive affect would be associated with lower DT costs, and negative affect would be associated with higher DT costs. Participants (N = 403; mean age, = 76.22 (6.55); females = 56%) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and a DT paradigm that involved three task conditions: Single-Task-Walk (STW), Alpha (cognitive interference requiring participants to recite alternate letters of the alphabet), and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) requiring participant to perform the two single tasks concurrently. Gait velocity was assessed via an instrumented walkway. As expected, results of a linear mixed effects model (LME) showed a significant decline in gait velocity (cm/s) from STW to DTW (estimate = -11.79; 95%CI = -12.82 to -10.77). LME results further revealed that negative affect was associated with greater decline in gait velocity from STW to DTW (ie., worse DT cost) (estimate = -0.38; 95%CI = -0.73 to -0.03). Positive affect did not, however, predict DT costs in gait velocity (estimate = -0.09; 95%CI = -0.23 to 0.05). These findings suggest that increased negative affect interferes with the allocation of attentional resources to competing task demands inherent in the DT paradigm.


Author(s):  
Alexia Barrable ◽  
David Booth ◽  
Dylan Adams ◽  
Gary Beauchamp

Nature connection, which describes a positive relationship between humans and the rest of nature, has been recognised as a worthwhile goal of all education. Given its association with wellbeing, as well as the fact that it can predict ecological behaviours in children, there have been several calls for it to become central to environmental education, and an important tool in tackling climate change. Previous research has reported the success of short-term interventions in increasing nature connection in children, but to date no empirical studies have looked at how mindful engagement with nature can promote both nature connection and positive affect. This study took place in a nature reserve in Wales and included n = 74 children, aged 9–10, who took part in three mindful activities. Pre- and post- measures included nature connection and positive/negative affect. Analysis showed a significant small to medium effect of the activity on nature connection. Moreover, positive affect significantly increased post-activity, while negative affect showed a small decrease.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110499
Author(s):  
Jingxin Zhao ◽  
Jing Ge ◽  
Qianyu Li

This study examined the roles of grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality in left-behind children’s positive and negative affect compared with non-left-behind children. Data from 557 participants indicated that grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality predicted children’s emotional adaptation. Friend trust and support and intimate exchange had a stronger predictive effect on positive affect among non-left-behind children. Moreover, the interaction effects between grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality on children’s positive affect supported the reinforcement model, while the interaction effects on negative affect supported the reinforcement model among left-behind children but supported the compensation model among non-left-behind children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110444
Author(s):  
Mehmet Çetin ◽  
Bayram Dede ◽  
Özgür Kökalan ◽  
Ezgi Dede

This research aimed to examine the effects of daily work–family conflict and work–family enrichment on daily positive and negative affect levels of employees during the first phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. The multilevel structure of the research design makes this study original. 730 day-level data were collected from 146 respondents during five consecutive workdays. One week later, a larger survey was delivered for assessing the person-level variables. The results indicated that both forms of work–family conflict significantly decreased positive affect and increased negative affect. Both types of work–family enrichment significantly increased positive affect; but only daily work to family enrichment significantly decreased daily negative affect. Findings also revealed that positive affect levels of respondents increase while negative affect levels decrease with time. On the days employees worked from distance, lower levels of positive and negative affect were experienced.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 215-244
Author(s):  
Virginia A. Periss ◽  
David F. Bjorklund

Adherence to religious belief may serve to promote group cohesion and cooperation by decreasing the costs associated with social exchange. Consistent with this, organized religious ideologies, unlike secular or spiritual based ideologies, have been argued to facilitate cooperation among individuals living in large-scale societies. In the current study, we examined whether hypothetical adults’ explanations of natural events focused on religious ideologies were more effective at eliciting positive-affect compared to spiritual or natural explanations. Results revealed that religious cues were more effective than spiritual cues in eliciting perceptions of positive-affect, but only when participant religiosity was taken into account. Participants high in religiosity favored the religious cues over the spiritual and natural cues, whereas participants high in spirituality showed no preferences. Conversely, participants low in religious belief demonstrated not only a positive bias towards the natural explanations, but also rated the adults expressing the supernatural explanations, in particular the religious explanations, as having greater negative-affect. From an evolutionary perspective, we interpreted the results as providing support that some forms of supernatural thinking, typical of organized religion, are more effective at eliciting feelings of positive and negative affect compared to supernatural beliefs not rooted in organized religion.


2000 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Kvaal ◽  
Shobhana Patodia

The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), a brief measure of Positive and Negative Affect, may be useful in assessing mood of medical patients because it does not include somatic items frequently confounded with medical conditions. In previous research Positive and Negative Affect have been independent and uncorrelated, and Negative Affect but not Positive Affect has been positively correlated with somatic symptoms. However, relationships between variables may vary in different populations, and there is relatively little information on Positive and Negative Affect in medical patients. In the current study, the PANAS was used to assess the relationships among Positive Affect, Negative Affect, and somatic symptoms and pain in a medically ill hospital population. Positive and Negative Affect scores were positively correlated and for patients reporting pain, Positive Affect scores were positively correlated with pain intensity. Results from this and other studies indicate that Positive and Negative Affect are independent but in some populations may be correlated; positive affects such as hopefulness may co-occur with both somatic complaints and psychological distress.


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