ABSTRACT

Individuals are experiencing unprecedented personal challenges as a result of the novel COVID-19 virus. Stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines were in place, which has had a direct effect on American lives: forcing the cancellation of events, ending in-person school or childcare, forcing remote work environments, and leading to drastic changes to recreational activities. All these life changes can be experienced as losses that lead to real grief. However, grieving in the time of COVID-19 is fraught with unique challenges. This study recruited 257 participants from across North America to participate in an online survey investigating the types of losses experienced due to COVID-19, feelings of guilt and delegitimization, communal coping, and general coping behaviors. Results indicate that people experienced various losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which were compounded and varying in degrees of intensity (e.g., loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of physical activity routine). Because of these differences in intensity, people felt guilty for grieving over their losses, and subsequently were less likely to appraise the losses as communal and more likely to utilize avoidant coping mechanisms on their own. The theoretical and public health implications of the study are discussed.

摘要

由于新型 COVID-19 病毒，个人正在经历前所未有的个人挑战。居家令和社交距离准则已经到位，这对美国人的生活产生了直接影响：迫使取消活动、结束面对面的学校或托儿服务、强制远程工作环境以及导致娱乐活动发生巨大变化。所有这些生活变化都可以被体验为导致真正悲伤的损失。然而，在 COVID-19 时代的悲伤充满了独特的挑战。这项研究招募了来自北美各地的 257 名参与者参与一项在线调查，调查因 COVID-19 导致的损失类型、内疚感和不合法性、社区应对和一般应对行为。结果表明，人们在 COVID-19 大流行期间经历了各种损失，其中许多损失是复合的并且强度不同（例如，失去亲人、失去工作、失去日常体育活动）。由于强度上的这些差异，人们对自己的损失感到内疚，随后不太可能将损失评估为公共损失，更有可能自行利用回避应对机制。讨论了该研究的理论和公共卫生影响。并且随后不太可能将损失评估为公共损失，并且更有可能自行利用回避应对机制。讨论了该研究的理论和公共卫生影响。并且随后不太可能将损失评估为公共损失，并且更有可能自行利用回避应对机制。讨论了该研究的理论和公共卫生影响。