ABSTRACT

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety sensitivity (AS) predict distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about how AS and IU jointly predict COVID-19 worries and behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and interactive effects of AS and IU as related to COVID-19 worries and behaviors in two samples of community adults recruited in April 2020 (N = 642; M age = 38.50 years, SD = 10.00) and May 2020 (N = 435; M age = 34.92 years, SD = 14.98). In sample 1, there was a significant AS by IU interaction predicting COVID-19-related catastrophizing worries, stockpiling, and cleaning behaviors such that the relationship of AS to COVID-19-related behaviors was stronger at high levels of IU. However, although AS predicted some COVID-19 related worries and behaviors, AS and IU did not interact in sample 2. Across samples, AS was directly related to financial and health worries, whereas IU was not a significant predictor after controlling for AS. These findings suggest AS consistently impacts COVID-19 worries and behaviors, particularly among individuals with high IU. Brief interventions targeting AS and IU may help people cope during the COVID-19 pandemic and reintegrate following the pandemic.

摘要

不确定性 (IU) 的不耐受性和焦虑敏感性 (AS) 预测 COVID-19 大流行期间的痛苦。然而，对于 AS 和 IU 如何共同预测 COVID-19 的担忧和行为知之甚少。在 2020 年 4 月招募的两个社区成年人样本（ N = 642；M年龄 = 38.50 岁，SD  = 10.00）中，结构方程模型用于检查 AS 和 IU 与 COVID-19 担忧和行为相关的直接和交互影响和 2020 年 5 月（N = 435；M年龄 = 34.92 岁，SD = 14.98)。在样本 1 中，IU 的交互作用显着预测 COVID-19 相关的灾难性担忧、储存和清洁行为，因此在 IU 水平较高时，AS 与 COVID-19 相关行为的关系更强。然而，尽管 AS 预测了一些与 COVID-19 相关的担忧和行为，但 AS 和 IU 在样本 2 中没有相互作用。在样本 2 中，AS 与财务和健康担忧直接相关，而在控制 AS 后，IU 不是显着的预测因子。这些发现表明，AS 持续影响 COVID-19 的担忧和行为，尤其是在 IU 高的个体中。针对 AS 和 IU 的简短干预可能有助于人们在 COVID-19 大流行期间应对并在大流行之后重新融入社会。