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Cognitive Therapy and Research

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25-07-2021 | Original Article

Evaluating the Interactive Effect of COVID-19 Worry and Loneliness on Mental Health Among Young Adults

Auteurs: Nubia A. Mayorga, Tanya Smit, Lorra Garey, Alexandra K. Gold, Michael W. Otto, Michael J. Zvolensky

Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Uitgave 1/2022

Abstract

Background

Young adults are overrepresented in terms of adverse mental health problems related to COVID-19. Emerging work has identified worry about the consequences and trajectory of COVID-19 and loneliness as important factors in mental health during the pandemic. However, the main and interactive effects of worry about COVID-19 and loneliness have not been explored in one overarching model in relation to mental health problems among young adults.

Methods

The present study therefore evaluated loneliness and COVID-19 related worry in terms of anxiety, stress, and depression among young adults (209 college students, 76.1% female, M_age = 22.99 years, SD = 5.25) recruited to participate in an online survey study.

Results

Results indicated a significant interaction between COVID-19 worry and loneliness for each criterion variable (depression: b = .01, SE = .003, t = 2.86, p = .01; anxiety: b = .01, SE = .002, t = 2.36, p = .02; stress: b = .01, SE = .003, t = 2.54, p = .01), such that worry was more strongly related to each mental health outcome among those that endorsed higher levels of loneliness.

Conclusion

The current findings suggest loneliness is related to negative mental health symptoms among young adults experiencing COVID-19 related worry. The current findings provide initial empirical evidence for the impact of COVID-19 worry on mental health among young adults experiencing loneliness. Future research may benefit from exploring how COVID-19 worry and loneliness interplay over time.

vorige artikel College Mental Health Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey

volgende artikel Psychological Distress and Physical Health Symptoms in the Latinx Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Anxiety Sensitivity

Results were consistent with the original pattern of findings in that for all criterion variables, COVID-19 worry and loneliness contributed to statistical significant overall model fit and the interaction of COVID-19 and loneliness explained a significant amount of variance in for the criterion variables.

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Titel: Evaluating the Interactive Effect of COVID-19 Worry and Loneliness on Mental Health Among Young Adults
Auteurs: Nubia A. Mayorga
Tanya Smit
Lorra Garey
Alexandra K. Gold
Michael W. Otto
Michael J. Zvolensky
Publicatiedatum: 25-07-2021
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research / Uitgave 1/2022
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10252-2

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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