ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic is positioned to exact a substantial mental health toll on the global population. Heightened fears of viral contamination and fears of the negative consequences of social distancing (e.g., fears related to home confinement, fears of loneliness and isolation) might contribute to the distress caused by the pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected from undergraduates (N = 608) residing in a U.S. pandemic “hotspot” at the time of data collection (between 7 April to 9 May, 2020). Outcome variables included viral contamination fears and social distancing fears. Predictor variables included biological sex, underlying medical vulnerability, number of recent viral symptoms, presence of positive COVID-19 test in social network, anxiety, depression, stress, emotion dysregulation, intolerance of uncertainty, body vigilance, and health anxiety. Female sex, anxiety severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and health anxiety uniquely predicted fears of viral contamination. Female sex and depression severity uniquely predicted fears of social distancing. Multiple anxiety-related vulnerabilities are potential intervention targets for reducing viral contamination fears. Depression is a potential intervention target for social distancing fears. Females might be at greater risk for both types of fears.

摘要

COVID-19大流行的定位是对全球人口造成重大精神健康损失。对病毒污染的恐惧和对社会距离遥远的负面后果的恐惧（例如，与家庭禁闭有关的恐惧，对孤独和孤立的恐惧）可能加剧了由大流行引起的痛苦。横截面数据收集自大学生（N= 608）位于数据收集时（2020年4月7日至5月9日）的美国大流行“热点”。结果变量包括对病毒污染的恐惧和对社会疏远的恐惧。预测变量包括生物学性别，潜在的医学易感性，近期病毒症状的数量，社交网络中COVID-19测试阳性的存在，焦虑，抑郁，压力，情绪失调，对不确定性的不宽容，身体警惕和健康焦虑。女性，焦虑的严重程度，不确定性的不耐性以及健康焦虑是唯一可以预测出对病毒污染的恐惧。女性的性别和抑郁的严重程度独特地预测了人们对社交距离的恐惧。多个与焦虑症相关的脆弱性是减少病毒污染恐惧的潜在干预目标。抑郁症是潜在的干预对象，可以消除社会上的恐惧。女性可能会同时面临两种恐惧。