scholarly journals Thinking Too Much About the Novel Coronavirus. The Link Between Persistent Thinking About COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Anxiety and Trauma Effects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Skalski ◽  
Patrycja Uram ◽  
Paweł Dobrakowski ◽  
Anna Kwiatkowska

Background. Earlier reports have shown that anxiety over the novel coronavirus may predict mental functioning during the pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the links between persistent thinking about COVID-19, anxiety over SARS-CoV-2 and trauma effects. For the purpose of this study, the Polish adaptation of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) was implemented. Participants and procedure. The study involved 356 individuals aged 18–78 (58% females). In addition to OCS, the participants completed the following questionnaires: the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Short Form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire. Results. OCS was characterized by satisfactory psychometric properties (α = .82). Regression analysis indicated that persistent thinking about COVID-19 was associated with increased coronavirus anxiety and negative trauma effects. In addition, anxiety served as a partial mediator in the link between persistent thinking about COVID-19 and negative trauma effects. Conclusions. The data obtained suggest that persistent thinking about the pandemic may be dysfunctional for mental health during the spread of the infectious disease.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Skalski ◽  
Patrycja Uram ◽  
Paweł Dobrakowski ◽  
Anna Kwiatkowska

Reports to date have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have a negative impact on individuals’ mental health. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between ego-resiliency, social support, coronavirus anxiety and trauma effects. The study employed the Polish adaptation of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). It involved 515 individuals aged 18–78. The Polish version of CAS revealed satisfactory psychometric properties (α = .86). Structural equation modelling indicated that ego-resiliency (the Ego-Resiliency Scale) and social support (the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) were correlated and reduced the severity of the novel coronavirus anxiety (CAS). Moreover, the level of anxiety allowed for predicting negative trauma effects (the short form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire). The scores indicate the need for practitioners to focus on interventions which elevate ego-resiliency and perceived social support to improve mental health during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Skalski ◽  
Patrycja Uram ◽  
Paweł Dobrakowski ◽  
Anna Kwiatkowska

Reports to date have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have a negative impact on individuals’ mental health. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between ego-resiliency, social support, coronavirus anxiety and trauma effects. The study employed the Polish adaptation of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). It involved 515 individuals aged 18–78. The Polish version of CAS revealed satisfactory psychometric properties (α = .86). Structural equation modelling indicated that ego-resiliency (the Ego-Resiliency Scale) and social support (the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) were correlated and reduced the severity of the novel coronavirus anxiety (CAS). Moreover, the level of anxiety allowed for predicting negative trauma effects (the short form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire). The scores indicate the need for practitioners to focus on interventions which elevate ego-resiliency and perceived social support to improve mental health during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Gaia Sampogna ◽  
Maurizio Pompili ◽  
Andrea Fiorillo

Major infectious disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, create significant distress for the general population, and pose a heavy burden on the healthcare systems called to care for affected individuals and contain the spread of the disease [...]


Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. e07801
Author(s):  
Najifa Alam ◽  
Oli Ahmed ◽  
Lutfun Naher ◽  
Fatema Akhter Hiramoni

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Erica T. Warner ◽  
Blake Victor Kent ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
M. Austin Argentieri ◽  
Wade C. Rowatt ◽  
...  

This paper describes the development and initial psychometric testing of the baseline Spirituality Survey (SS-1) from the Study on Stress, Spirituality, and Health (SSSH). The SS-1 contains a mixture of items selected from validated existing scales and new items generated to measure important constructs not captured by existing instruments, and our purpose here was to establish the validity of new and existing measures in a racially/ethnically diverse sample. Psychometric properties of the SS-1 were evaluated using standard psychometric analyses in 4563 SSSH participants. Predictive validity of SS-1 scales was assessed in relation to the physical and mental health component scores from the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12). Scales exhibited adequate to strong psychometric properties and demonstrated construct and predictive validity. Overall, the correlational findings provided solid evidence that the SS-1 scales are associated with a wide range of relevant R/S attitudes, mental health, and to a lesser degree physical health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen R. Choi ◽  
MarySue V. Heilemann ◽  
Alex Fauer ◽  
Meredith Mead

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created an unprecedented global health challenge. There is risk that the outbreak will create a “second pandemic” of mental health crises in health systems and communities. Thus, a comprehensive public health response to the pandemic must include (a) attention to the psychological aspects of hospitalization for patients, families, and staff affected by COVID-19; (b) planning for emergency and acute psychiatric patient care if hospitals become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients; and (c) innovations for providing mental health care in communities while social distancing is required and health system resources are strained. Nurses and nurse leaders must anticipate these mental health challenges, assist with preparedness in health systems and communities, and advocate for a coordinated response to promote mental wellness and resilience.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Dena Lyras

As we begin 2020, Microbiology is dominating the news with the emergence and rapid dissemination of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on public health, with significant financial, logistical and social repercussions, has quickly become apparent. As microbiologists we have an important role to play during this time because we can use our knowledge, expertise and experience to educate the community around us, and to reduce the panic that results from fear and misinformation. It is also critical that we ensure that racial groups are not stigmatised because of an infectious disease. A co-ordinated global effort is required to tackle this new infectious threat, and we are an important local part of this effort. It is also important to develop strategies that can be deployed when the next threat emerges, as it surely will.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Silverman ◽  
Marie Forgeard ◽  
Courtney Beard ◽  
Thröstur Björgvinsson

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne M.A. Lamers ◽  
Gerben J. Westerhof ◽  
Ernst T. Bohlmeijer ◽  
Peter M. ten Klooster ◽  
Corey L.M. Keyes

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1099-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Mueller ◽  
Daniel L. Segal ◽  
Brandon Gavett ◽  
Meghan A. Marty ◽  
Brian Yochim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS; Segal et al. (Segal, D. L., June, A., Payne, M., Coolidge, F. L. and Yochim, B. (2010). Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 709–714. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.05.002) is a self-report measure of anxiety that was designed to address unique issues associated with anxiety assessment in older adults. This study is the first to use item response theory (IRT) to examine the psychometric properties of a measure of anxiety in older adults.Method:A large sample of older adults (n = 581; mean age = 72.32 years, SD = 7.64 years, range = 60 to 96 years; 64% women; 88% European American) completed the GAS. IRT properties were examined. The presence of differential item functioning (DIF) or measurement bias by age and sex was assessed, and a ten-item short form of the GAS (called the GAS-10) was created.Results:All GAS items had discrimination parameters of 1.07 or greater. Items from the somatic subscale tended to have lower discrimination parameters than items on the cognitive or affective subscales. Two items were flagged for DIF, but the impact of the DIF was negligible. Women scored significantly higher than men on the GAS and its subscales. Participants in the young-old group (60 to 79 years old) scored significantly higher on the cognitive subscale than participants in the old-old group (80 years old and older).Conclusions:Results from the IRT analyses indicated that the GAS and GAS-10 have strong psychometric properties among older adults. We conclude by discussing implications and future research directions.


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