Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may trigger posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) due to its threat to health, well-being, and survival. Objectives: We sought to assess levels of change in PTSS at three waves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our second objective was to examine the role of four objective and subjective predictors salient to COVID-19-loss of resources, sense of loneliness, perceived COVID-19 threat, and uncertainty stress-on the trajectory of PTSS. Methods: The study consisted of three waves, a month apart, between June and August 2020, with 903, 718, and 684 participants in each wave, respectively. Results: At T0, participants had a medium level of PTSS (M = 2.07, SD = 0.89), which increased at T1 (M = 2.46, SD = 0.97) and decreased at T2 (M = 2.24, SD = 0.93). Linear mixed-effects modeling showed that loss of resources, sense of loneliness, perceived COVID-19 threat, and uncertainty stress were significant predictors of PTSS over the three time-points. Significant interactions between these predictors (except sense of loneliness) and time were found: At higher levels of resource loss, uncertainty stress, and COVID-19 threat, there was a steeper increase in PTSS from baseline to 1 month. Conclusions: The four predictors of PTSS should be addressed via strengthening resilience of individuals and communities.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 533-546 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Anxiety, Stress and Coping |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- COVID-19
- loss of resources
- perceived threat
- posttraumatic symptoms
- sense of loneliness
- uncertainty stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health