Abstract

In the earliest months of 2020, the COVID-19 emergency reached a pandemic status of international concern. In this situation, people tended to think more about current difficulties and their negative consequences due to the fear of infection and changed daily life during quarantine. The aim of this study was to explore the severity of worry in relation to individual characteristics and emotions during COVID-19 outbreak in the Italian people. Socio-demographic questions and standardized self-report questionnaires were administered online. Results highlighted a moderate level of worry, anxiety and distress. People with higher perceptions of COVID-19 severity exhibited higher levels of worry in contrast to those who perceived a greater control over the possibility of infection. Multiple regression analysis indicated that coping styles, emotion regulation strategies and personality traits significantly contributed to explain the variance in worry scores. Findings supported that cognitive reappraisal, emotion-focused coping and extraversion were protective factors for worry, while expressive suppression, dysfunctional and problem-focused coping, and neuroticism were related to high worry. However, neuroticism and dysfunctional coping were particularly important predictors of worry. This paper also considers possible psychological interventions that might be implemented in order to deal with mental health issues emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic.

摘要

在2020年初，COVID-19紧急情况达到了国际关注的大流行状态。在这种情况下，由于担心受到感染以及检疫期间日常生活的改变，人们倾向于更多地考虑当前的困难及其负面后果。这项研究的目的是探讨在意大利人中发生COVID-19暴发期间与个人特征和情绪有关的担忧的严重程度。在线进行社会人口统计学问题和标准化的自我报告调查表。结果突出了中等程度的忧虑，焦虑和困扰。与那些对感染可能性有更大控制的人相比，对COVID-19严重性的认识较高的人表现出更高的担忧水平。多元回归分析表明应对方式，情绪调节策略和人格特质显着有助于解释忧虑评分的差异。研究结果支持认知的重新评估，以情绪为导向的应对和外向性是担心的保护因素，而表达抑制，功能障碍和以问题为中心的应对以及神经质与高度担忧相关。然而，神经质和机能障碍是忧虑的特别重要的预兆。本文还考虑了可能采取的心理干预措施，以应对COVID-19大流行引起的心理健康问题。而表达抑制，功能障碍和以问题为中心的应对以及神经质与高度担忧相关。然而，神经质和机能障碍是焦虑的重要预测因子。本文还考虑了可能采取的心理干预措施，以应对COVID-19大流行引起的心理健康问题。而表达抑制，功能障碍和以问题为中心的应对以及神经质与高度担忧相关。然而，神经质和机能障碍是忧虑的特别重要的预兆。本文还考虑了可能采取的心理干预措施，以应对COVID-19大流行引起的心理健康问题。