The role of emotion regulation and intolerance to uncertainty on the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and distress

Bibliographic Data

ID21621455
AuthorsSalvatore Gullo (0000-0003-4007-6336, University of Palermo, corresponding author), Omar Carlo Gioacchino Gelo (0000-0003-2480-046X, Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien), Giulia Bassi (0000-0002-7239-3021, University of Padua), Gianluca Lo Coco (0000-0001-9027-1899, University of Palermo), Gloria Lagetto (0000-0001-8903-639X, University of Salento), Giovanna Esposito (0000-0002-4926-108X, Department of Agricultural Sciences), Chiara Pazzagli (0000-0001-8301-0439, University of Perugia), Silvia Salcuni (0000-0002-1798-5761, University of Padua), Maria Francesca Freda (0000-0002-2529-2279, Department of Agricultural Sciences), Claudia Mazzeschi (0000-0002-6861-2009, University of Perugia), Cecilia Giordano (0000-0001-7346-4146, University of Palermo), Maria Di Blasi (0000-0001-9998-0552, University of Palermo)
Year2023
Volume42
Issue23
Pages19658-19669
Publication date2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCurrent Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1046-1310 • E-ISSN: 1936-4733
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12144-022-03071-5
PMID35496361
OpenAlexW4224309832
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited46

The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing negative consequences on mental health around the globe. To date, research on what psychological factors could influence individuals’ distress is still scarce. The current study aims to test a multiple mediation model to examine the role of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) and emotional regulation (i.e., expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) as joint factors, which can increase understanding of psychological distress due to the COVID-19 outbreak. An online survey measuring fear of COVID-19, IU, emotional regulation, and psychological distress was administered to 3863 Italian adults (females 73.3%; M age = 36.44; SD = 14.74) during lockdown. Results showed that IU partially mediated the effect of fear of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety and stress. Moreover, individuals with difficulties in managing the uncertainties due to their fear of COVID-19 may be at risk for heightened use of expressive suppression and depression. However, individuals with both higher IU and expressive suppression showed lower level of stress. High cognitive reappraisal has a mediational effect on the relationship between fear of COVID-19, IU, and lower psychological distress. Findings suggest that IU and emotional regulation should be targeted for informing the development of tailored treatments to reduce the negative consequences of the outbreak

Anxiety · Cognition · Cognitive reappraisal · Developmental psychology · Disease · Distress · Expressive Suppression · Mediation · Psychiatry · Rumination · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology · Internal Medicine