ABSTRACT
Several measures have been implemented to reduce the spread of the COVID-19, with mask-wearing among the most widely used measures. Yet, the barriers to mask-wearing are unclear. This study examined whether different types of anxiety symptom clusters (i.e., symptoms of claustrophobia, physical anxiety sensitivity, and social anxiety sensitivity) are associated with mask-wearing tendencies during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated how anxiety symptom clusters relate to mask-wearing discomfort and self-isolation distress. A total of 556 Canadian adults were recruited online between January and February of 2021. The study was administered online via Qualtrics. Participants completed questionnaires measuring symptoms of claustrophobia, anxiety sensitivity, and isolation distress, along with a measure of mask-wearing behaviours. Linear regression analyses revealed that elevated anxiety symptoms across all symptom clusters predicted more physical and emotional discomfort related to mask-wearing, as well as reduced likelihood of leaving the home due to mask-related discomfort. Leaving home less often due to mask-related discomfort was significantly associated with more self-isolation distress and poorer coping overall. Differential patterns of mask-wearing behaviours across anxiety symptom clusters were not detected. These findings suggest that anxiety symptoms (i.e., including claustrophobia, physical anxiety sensitivity, and social anxiety sensitivity) are positively associated with mask-related distress. This, in turn, may lead people to avoid leaving their home and consequently experience increased self-isolation distress. Furthermore, these findings suggest that people with heightened anxiety symptoms tend to experience more discomfort with mask-wearing, which may perpetuate a cycle of avoidance and poorer coping overall. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (French) Plusieurs mesures ont ete mises en oeuvre pour reduire la propagation de la COVID-19, le port du masque etant l'une des mesures les plus utilisees. Pourtant, les obstacles au port du masque ne sont pas clairs. Cette etude a examine si differents types de groupes de symptomes d'anxiete (c'est-a-dire les symptomes de claustrophobie, de sensibilite a l'anxiete physique et de sensibilite a l'anxiete sociale) etaient associes aux tendances de port du masque pendant la pandemie de COVID-19 et a etudie comment les groupes de symptomes d'anxiete sont lies a l'inconfort du port de masque et a la detresse liee a l'isolement. Un total de 556 adultes canadiens ont ete recrutes en ligne entre janvier et fevrier 2021. L'etude a ete administree en ligne via Qualtrics. Les participants ont rempli des questionnaires mesurant les symptomes de claustrophobie, la sensibilite a l'anxiete et la detresse liee a l'isolement, ainsi qu'une mesure des comportements lies au port du masque. Les analyses de regression lineaire ont revele que des symptomes d'anxiete eleves dans tous les groupes de symptomes predisaient un plus grand inconfort physique et emotionnel lie au port du masque, ainsi qu'une probabilite reduite de quitter le domicile en raison de l'inconfort lie au port du masque. Le fait de quitter le domicile moins souvent en raison d'un inconfort lie au port du masque etait significativement associe a une plus grande detresse liee a l'isolement et a une moins bonne adaptation globale. Il n'a pas ete possible de detecter des comportements differents en matiere de port de masque selon les groupes de symptomes d'anxiete. Ces resultats indiquent que les symptomes d'anxiete (y compris la claustrophobie, la sensibilite a l'anxiete physique et la sensibilite a l'anxiete sociale) sont positivement associes a la detresse liee au port du masque. Cela peut conduire les personnes a eviter de quitter leur domicile et, par consequent, a eprouver une detresse accrue liee a l'isolement. De plus, ces resultats suggerent que les personnes presentant des symptomes d'anxiete eleves ont tendance a eprouver plus d'inconfort lie au port du masque, ce qui peut perpetuer un cycle d'evitement et une moins bonne adaptation globale. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement The findings suggest that anxiety symptoms may interfere with engagement in this important public health measure, informing policy-makers of at-risk groups in the population. Moreover, those who experience higher mask-related anxiety are more likely to stay at home, leading to increased self-isolation and isolation-related distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to a global increase in mental health problems including "COVID-19 anxiety," the presence of dysfunctional anxiety about the novel coronavirus (e.g., fear of contracting or spreading the virus). The present study investigated potential moderators of the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and (a) daily functioning and (b) quality of life, to determine which individuals are most susceptible to these negative outcomes. Intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control were examined as possible moderators. This study recruited 193 Canadian adults using crowdsourcing platforms during the third wave of COVID-19. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing demographics and the constructs of interest. Regression analyses found that neither intolerance of uncertainty nor health locus of control significantly moderated the relationships between COVID-19 anxiety and daily functioning. However, both intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control were significant moderators between COVID-19 anxiety and quality of life. These findings extend past research by emphasizing the need to target specific risk factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control, in therapeutic settings to better support individuals' quality of life during this difficult and unpredictable time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (French) La pandemie de coronavirus (COVID-19) a contribue a une augmentation mondiale des problemes de sante mentale, dont l'<< anxiete liee a la COVID-19 , c'est-a-dire la presence d'une anxiete dysfonctionnelle associee au nouveau coronavirus (par exemple, la peur de contracter ou de propager le virus). La presente etude a examine les moderateurs potentiels de la relation entre l'anxiete liee a la COVID-19 et (a) le fonctionnement quotidien et (b) la qualite de vie, afin de determiner quelles personnes sont les plus susceptibles de subir ces effets negatifs. L'intolerance a l'incertitude et le locus de controle de la sante ont ete examines comme moderateurs possibles. Cette etude a recrute 193 adultes canadiens en utilisant des plateformes de production participative (crowdsourcing) pendant la troisieme vague de COVID-19. Les participants ont rempli des questionnaires en ligne evaluant les donnees demographiques et les constructions d'interet. Les analyses de regression ont montre que ni l'intolerance a l'incertitude ni le locus de controle de la sante ne moderent de maniere significative les relations entre l'anxiete liee a la COVID-19 et le fonctionnement quotidien. Or, l'intolerance a l'incertitude et le locus de controle de la sante etaient tous deux des moderateurs significatifs entre l'anxiete liee a la COVID-19 et la qualite de vie. Ces resultats prolongent les recherches anterieures en soulignant la necessite de cibler des facteurs de risque specifiques, tels que l'intolerance a l'incertitude et le locus de controle de la sante, dans des contextes therapeutiques afin de mieux soutenir la qualite de vie des individus durant cette periode difficile et imprevisible. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement High coronavirus disease (COVID) anxiety during Canada's third wave of the pandemic was associated with reduced quality of life in individuals. Specific risk factors such as intolerance of uncertainty and internal health locus of control resulted in a greater vulnerability to the psychological consequences of COVID-19. These findings highlight potential areas for clinical intervention to support Canadians suffering during and after the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)