Associations between PTSD and protective behaviors during the Covid-19 pandemic
Results from the Mind Your Heart Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4227302 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Annie L Ryder (0000-0003-4774-101X, University of Kansas), Francis Julian Graham (San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, USA), Finlay Graham, Kristen Nishimi (0000-0001-6189-830X, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, USA), Aoife O’donovan (0000-0003-2353-7217, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, USA), Beth E Cohen (0000-0002-6166-0761, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, USA) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 13591053251346379-13591053251346379 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-16 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Health Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1359-1053 • E-ISSN: 1461-7277 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/13591053251346379 |
| PMID | 40667815 |
| OpenAlex | W4412473786 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked with increased risk for hospitalization and death following COVID-19 infection, underscoring the importance of prevention in this population. Prior studies of pandemic-related behaviors in patients with PTSD have yielded mixed results. The present study used cross-sectional data from the Mind Your Heart Study to examine the association between PTSD and engagement in protective behaviors in a sample of 231 older Veterans assessed between July and October 2020 and to explore the role of perceived threat of COVID-19 in any observed associations. In adjusted analyses, probable PTSD was associated with greater engagement in protective behaviors (i.e. social distancing, disinfecting, protective equipment/medication, and health information behaviors), which was partially explained by greater perceived threat. PTSD may facilitate engagement in protective health behaviors, but some protective behaviors (i.e. social distancing) may have adverse implications for mental health
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Developmental psychology · Disease · Distancing · Environmental health · Mental health · Pandemic · Population · Posttraumatic stress · Psychiatry · Social distance · Young adult · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Clinical Psychology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |