Psychological distress and the COVID-19 pandemic: The important role of uncertainty

ABSTRACT

The unprecedented uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely acknowledged. However, uncertainty and the complex psychological responses that it generates have not often been the core or centerpiece of writings on pandemic distress. In this paper, we discuss why it is crucial to understand pandemic distress reactions as a psychological response to uncertainty, in and of itself. To inform this discussion, we have drawn on writings and research on the topic of uncertainty within psychology and other disciplines (e.g., public health). We attempt to apply some of these ideas to the Puerto Rican context, where the COVID-19 pandemic has been one among many "uncertainty disasters." The importance of autogestion in Puerto Rico is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) La incertidumbre sin precedentes asociada con la pandemia del COVID-19 ha sido ampliamente reconocida. Sin embargo, la incertidumbre y las complejas respuestas psicologicas que genera no han sido a menudo el nucleo o la pieza central de los escritos sobre la angustia pandemica. En este articulo, discutimos por que es crucial comprender las reacciones de la angustia pandemica como una respuesta psicologica a la incertidumbre, en si misma. Para informar esta discusion, nos hemos basado en escritos e investigaciones sobre el tema de la incertidumbre dentro de la psicologia y otras disciplinas (por ejemplo, salud publica). Intentamos aplicar algunas de estas ideas al contexto puertorriqueno, donde la pandemia del COVID-19 ha sido uno entre muchos "desastres de incertidumbre". Abordamos la importancia de la autogestion en Puerto Rico. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)