Psychological Predictors of Covid-19-Related Anxiety in Vulnerable Groups

Bibliographic Data

ID16945729
AuthorsDiana Bakalova (0000-0002-3366-6402, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), Ilina Nacheva (0000-0002-9003-9181, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), Tsvetelina Panchelieva (0000-0002-8846-6483, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
Year2023
Volume13
Issue9
Pages1815-1830
Publication date2023-09-14
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2174-8144 • E-ISSN: 2254-9625
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/ejihpe13090132
PMID37754471
OpenAlexW4386742344
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited57

This study responds to the need to explore psychological predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety in vulnerable groups. An anonymous voluntary online survey was conducted (n = 520) with (a) working parents with young children (0–12 y.o.), (b) people with chronic physical conditions, (c) people with multiple vulnerability characteristics and (d) a control group (no self-reported vulnerability) in 2022. Findings showed that perceived stress of the parents and trait anxiety of the chronic sufferers were single weak positive predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. However, both psychological factors had a stronger effect on the pandemic-related anxiety for the group with multiple vulnerabilities. In the control group, trait resilience and optimistic expectations (combined with perceived stress) were moderate negative predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. The findings emphasize the importance of perceptions, expectations, trait anxiety as well as the need for intersectional research of vulnerability from multiple perspectives. Furthermore, they highlight the necessity of group-specific policies and interventions aimed both at handling the negative psychological tendencies of the vulnerable groups and at strengthening the positive tendencies of non-vulnerable groups, rather than tackling only emergent anxiety conditions in crisis times

Anxiety · Developmental psychology · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychological resilience · Trait · Trait anxiety · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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