The impact of COVID-19 anxiety on quality of life in Canadian adults: The moderating role of intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control

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)