Aversive Reactivity: A Transdiagnostic Functional Bridge Between Neuroticism and Avoidant Behavioral Coping

Aversive reactivity to negative affect has been described as a transdiagnostic mechanism that links distal temperamental vulnerabilities to clinically relevant behaviors. However, the abundance of constructs reflecting aversive reactivity has resulted in a proliferation of models that may ultimately be redundant. We performed a circumscribed review of studies measuring associations between six constructs – anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, distress intolerance, intolerance of uncertainty, thought-action fusion, and negative urgency – and ten relevant coping behaviors. Results suggested that most constructs were measured in relation to a limited number of coping behaviors. Additionally, constructs were most often measured in isolation, rather than with similar constructs. Implications and suggestions for future research and treatment are discussed.

Strategies of University Students to Cope with COVID-19 and the Role of Psychological Flexibility

The COVID-19 outbreak is an important stress factor that threatens the health of individuals both physically and psychologically. Within the scope of struggling the outbreak, many precautions, such as quarantine practices, social distance rules, distance education, flexible working hours have been taken and the lives of individuals have changed greatly. One of the groups that have been significantly influenced by this process is university students. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the ways in which university students cope with the outbreak and to understand the role of psychological flexibility. There were 457 university students in the study. Participants completed an online questionnaire form comprising items relevant to their coping strategies and psychological flexibility levels. Results revealed that participants used transcendental coping the most while relational coping the least. Additionally, psychological inflexibility negatively predicted transcendental, behavioral, and relational coping behaviors. These results revealed the fact that psychological flexibility is an important mechanism that channels students’ coping behaviors in such a critical process.

Health Behaviors During the COVID-19 Epidemic: Perspectives From Studying International Coping and Compliance

Control of the COVID-19 pandemic requires significant changes in people’s health behaviors. We offer this multidisciplinary perspective on the extent of compliance with social distancing recommendations and on coping with these measures around the globe in the first months of the pandemic. We present descriptive data from our survey of 17,650 respondents across 18 countries and territories in June 2020. The majority of respondents worried about contracting the virus. Nearly all engaged in at least some preventive behaviors, particularly handwashing, mask wearing, and avoiding social events. Most reported that it would be difficult to continue these behaviors for more than a few months, and about half reported feeling more anxious since the start of the pandemic. Commonly reported coping behaviors included news consumption, watching television, and sleeping. Our cross-national study highlights areas for developing and implementing health behavior interventions in the global fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Explaining stress coping behaviors in patients with multiple sclerosis based on the PRECEDE model: a qualitative directed content analysis

Background Stress can be regarded as one of the consequences of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and a factor in exacerbating or recurring the symptoms resulting from the disease. This study aimed to explain the stress coping behaviors in patients with MS based on the PRECEDE model. Methods This study is a qualitative directed content analysis research based on the PRECEDE model. Data were obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 26 patients with MS, who were selected using a purposive sampling and maximum diversity in terms of gender, age, education, marital status, and employment. Data collection continued until the saturation occurred. Simultaneously, collected data were analyzed using a qualitative directed content analysis method. Results Data analysis led to the identification of 11 sub-categories. Of these, 10 sub-categories were assigned to three categories of predisposing factors (awareness, attitude, self-efficacy, and perceived severity), enabling factors (existence of resources, access to resources, skills of using resources, and educational preferences), and reinforcing factors (social support, important others and behavioral consequences). The social comparison category was a new category identified from the analysis of interviews. Conclusions Based on the results, individual, environmental and social factors play a role in the stress of these patients. Designing programs that lead to their empowerment and improvements in the environmental and social conditions can be effective in controlling stress in these patients. Based on the results, planners can adopt the most appropriate strategies to change these determinants, help reduce stress, and promote the psychological standard of living in these patients.

Caregiving Through the Pandemic: Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 on Caregivers and Their Caregiving Experiences

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many caregivers have been tasked with a unique role; not only to keep themselves safe and healthy, but also to protect and find new ways to aid their care recipients, many of whom are older adults at relatively high risk for severe complications from COVID-19. These challenging circumstances have driven caregivers to quickly adapt as they continue to manage their personal lives and caregiving responsibilities. Utilizing three waves of survey data from the MIT AgeLab Caregiver Panel, this presentation will examine the attitudes, experiences and worries of family caregivers at several time points along the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as caregivers’ preparations and coping behaviors along the way. Differences between caregiving situations will also be discussed.

Social Support, Coping Behaviors, and Resilience Among African Americans During COVID-19

Enduring structural inequalities in the United States by race have only become more apparent during COVID-19, as African Americans experienced significant health and economic challenges that far exceeded those observed among other racial and ethnic groups. Relying on multiple nationally representative surveys, this study examines the diversity of ways in which middle-aged and older African Americans’ managed the stress and pressures associated with the pandemic. I summarize the inequities faced by African Americans before and during COVID-19, as well as trends in the utilization of social support, coping behaviors, and degree of resilience. Furthermore, this study investigates the relationship between social support and coping strategies to multiple health outcomes over time. When appropriate, comparisons to other racial and ethnic groups are made. This research underscores the importance of considering social relationships and modifiable coping behaviors when studying African American aging and well-being during times of crisis.