The COVID-19 pandemic created a complex psychological environment for Americans. In this study, 450 MTurk workers completed measures of sociodemographic characteristics, perceived risk for COVID-19, general perceived vulnerability to disease, intolerance of uncertainty, and psychological flexibility. These variables were used to predict COVID-19 preventive health behaviors (PPE use), psychological distress, and physical symptoms. The surveys were completed between April 9, 2020 and April 18, 2020 which is a period that corresponded to the first 2–3 weeks of lockdown for most participants.

A demographically diverse sample of participants was recruited. A substantial number of participants reported a reduction employment status and 69% were in self-isolation. Participants reported a high degree of perceived vulnerability to COVID-19. PPE mask wearing was variable: 16% “not at all,” 20% “some of the time,” 42% “a good part of the time,” and 26 “most of the time.” Using clinical cutoff on the post-trauma scale, 70% of the sample would be considered to have symptoms consistent with PTSD. Physical symptom reporting was also high.

Intolerance of uncertainty and psychological inflexibility were significant predictors of psychological distress and physical symptoms. Psychological flexibility moderated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and psychological distress/physical symptoms. The relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and psychological distress/physical symptoms was stronger among participants with lower levels of psychological flexibility. These findings indicate psychological flexibility can reduce distress associated with COVID-19. Additionally, these results support the workability of the Unified Flexibility and Mindfulness Model as a framework for studying health behavior.

COVID-19 大流行为美国人创造了复杂的心理环境。在这项研究中，450 名 MTurk 工人完成了社会人口学特征、感知 COVID-19 风险、普遍感知的疾病易感性、对不确定性的不容忍和心理灵活性的测量。这些变量用于预测 COVID-19 预防性健康行为（PPE 使用）、心理困扰和身体症状。调查是在 2020 年 4 月 9 日至 2020 年 4 月 18 日之间完成的，对于大多数参与者来说，这段时间对应于封锁的前 2-3 周。

招募了人口统计学上多样化的参与者样本。相当多的参与者报告就业状况减少，69% 处于自我隔离状态。参与者报告了对 COVID-19 的高度感知脆弱性。PPE 口罩的佩戴情况各不相同：16%“完全没有”、20%“有时”、42%“大部分时间”和 26%“大部分时间”。使用创伤后量表的临床临界值，70% 的样本将被认为具有与 PTSD 一致的症状。身体症状报告也很高。

对不确定性的不容忍和心理上的僵化是心理困扰和身体症状的重要预测因素。心理灵活性调节了对不确定性的不容忍与心理困扰/身体症状之间的关系。在心理灵活性较低的参与者中，对不确定性的不容忍与心理困扰/身体症状之间的关系更强。这些发现表明心理灵活性可以减少与 COVID-19 相关的痛苦。此外，这些结果支持统一灵活性和正念模型作为研究健康行为的框架的可行性。