Psychological resilience early in the Covid-19 pandemic

Stressors, resources, and coping strategies in a national sample of Americans

Datos Bibliográficos

ID13349694
AutoresCrystal L Park (0000-0001-6572-7321, University of Connecticut, autor de correspondencia), Lucy Finkelstein‐Fox (0000-0001-7799-9164, University of Connecticut), Bob Russell (0000-0001-7008-1887, University of Connecticut), Michael Fendrich (0000-0001-8391-5895, University of Hartford), Morica Hutchison (0000-0002-0807-8721, University of Connecticut), Jessica Becker (0000-0001-5830-2827, University of Hartford)
Año2021
Volumen76
Número5
Páginas715-728
Fecha de publicación2021-06-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0003-066X • E-ISSN: 1935-990X
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/amp0000813
OpenAlexW3163953615
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas33
Referencias citadas28

Spreading rapidly across the United States beginning in the spring of 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic radically disrupted Americans' lives. Previous studies of community-wide disasters suggested people are fairly resilient and identified resources and strategies that promote that resilience. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic is in some ways unique, with high levels of uncertainty, evolving implications and restrictions, and varied and uneven impacts. How resilient were Americans as the pandemic progressed? What psychosocial resources and coping strategies facilitated adjustment as the country moved into a summer of uneven reopenings and reclosures? Data from a national sample of 674 Americans were gathered at the height of early lockdowns and peaking infections in mid-April, 2020, and again, 5 and 10 weeks later. The study aimed to determine levels and sources of distress and to identify the resources and coping efforts that promoted or impeded resilience. Early levels of distress diminished to some extent over subsequent months while levels of wellbeing were comparable with usual norms, suggesting a largely resilient response. COVID-19-related stress exposure also decreased gradually over time. Older age, higher levels of mindfulness and social support, and meaning focused coping predicted better adjustment, reflecting resilience, while avoidance coping was particularly unhelpful. In models predicting change over time, approach-oriented coping (i.e., active coping, meaning-focused coping, and seeking social support) was minimally predictive of subsequent adjustment. Given the unique and ongoing circumstances presented by COVID-19, specific interventions targeting psychosocial resources and coping identified here may help to promote resilience as the pandemic continues to unfold. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Disease · Distress · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychological resilience · Psychosocial · Social support · Stressor · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology