IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i12p7178-d836748.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Cross-Sectional Time Course of COVID-19 Related Worry, Perceived Stress, and General Anxiety in the Context of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-like Symptomatology

Author

Listed:
  • Roger J. Mullins

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Timothy J. Meeker

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Paige M. Vinch

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA)

  • Ingrid K. Tulloch

    (Department of Psychology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA)

  • Mark I. Saffer

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA)

  • Jui-Hong Chien

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA)

  • O. Joseph Bienvenu

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA)

  • Frederick A. Lenz

    (Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic within the United States of America resulted in over 800,000 deaths as of February 2022 and has been addressed by social distancing or stay-at-home measures. Collective prolonged multimodal trauma on this scale is likely to elicit symptomatology in the general population consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), somatization, anxiety, and stress. The psychological component of this response contributes substantially to the burden of this disease worldwide. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between COVID-19-related concern, anxiety, and perceived stress on PTSD-like symptomatology over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited via social media within the United States of America between 8th May 2020 and 11th August 2021 to complete an internet questionnaire including mood, personality, and COVID-19-specific scales. General anxiety and PTSD-like symptomatology were above the screening cutoffs for most respondents. These measures increased in severity over the pandemic, with the change point of our Concern scale preceding that of the other significant measures. Measures of COVID-19-related concern, generalized anxiety, and PTSD-like symptomatology were strongly correlated with each other. Anxiety, perceived stress, and PTSD-like symptomatology are strongly interrelated, increase with pandemic length, and are linked to reported levels of concern over COVID-19. These observations may aid future research and policy as the pandemic continues.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger J. Mullins & Timothy J. Meeker & Paige M. Vinch & Ingrid K. Tulloch & Mark I. Saffer & Jui-Hong Chien & O. Joseph Bienvenu & Frederick A. Lenz, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Time Course of COVID-19 Related Worry, Perceived Stress, and General Anxiety in the Context of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-like Symptomatology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7178-:d:836748
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7178/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7178/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Melissa Janson & Jill D. Sharkey & Daniel A. del Cid, 2021. "Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in Grocery Store Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for Workplace Safety and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Alessio Gori & Eleonora Topino, 2021. "Across the COVID-19 Waves; Assessing Temporal Fluctuations in Perceived Stress, Post-Traumatic Symptoms, Worry, Anxiety and Civic Moral Disengagement over One Year of Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Audun Havnen & Frederick Anyan & Odin Hjemdal & Stian Solem & Maja Gurigard Riksfjord & Kristen Hagen, 2020. "Resilience Moderates Negative Outcome from Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated-Mediation Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Csanád Szabó & Judit Pukánszky & Lajos Kemény, 2020. "Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hungarian Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stephan Getzmann & Jan Digutsch & Thomas Kleinsorge, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic and Personality: Agreeable People Are More Stressed by the Feeling of Missing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Emma A. Adams & Jeff Parker & Tony Jablonski & Joanne Kennedy & Fiona Tasker & Desmond Hunter & Katy Denham & Claire Smiles & Cassey Muir & Amy O’Donnell & Emily Widnall & Kate Dotsikas & Eileen Kaner, 2022. "A Qualitative Study Exploring Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Support among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. José Pais-Ribeiro & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente & Margarida Jarego & Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & Jordi Miró, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Psychosocial and Health-Related Factors Associated with Psychological Discomfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Lubna Tannous-Haddad & Dorit Hadar-Shoval & Michal Alon-Tirosh & Kfir Asraf & Orna Tzischinsky, 2022. "Difference between Minorities and Majorities in the Association between COVID-19-Related Stress and Psychological Distress: A Socio-Ecological Perspective and the Moderating Role of Parenthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Pasquale Caponnetto & Marilena Maglia & Graziella Chiara Prezzavento & Concetta Pirrone, 2022. "Sexual Addiction, Hypersexual Behavior and Relative Psychological Dynamics during the Period of Social Distancing and Stay-at-Home Policies Due to COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, February.
    6. Eva Hernandez-Garcia & Evangelia Chrysikou & Anastasia Z. Kalea, 2021. "The Interplay between Housing Environmental Attributes and Design Exposures and Psychoneuroimmunology Profile—An Exploratory Review and Analysis Paper in the Cancer Survivors’ Mental Health Morbidity ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-32, October.
    7. Maria Llistosella & Pere Castellvi & Andrea Miranda-Mendizabal & Silvia Recoder & Ester Calbo & Marc Casajuana-Closas & David Leiva & Rumen Manolov & Nuria Matilla-Santander & Carlos G. Forero, 2022. "Low Resilience Was a Risk Factor of Mental Health Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic but Not in Individuals Exposed to COVID-19: A Cohort Study in Spanish Adult General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Fernando Molero & Patricia Recio & Encarnación Sarriá, 2021. "Living Space and Job Prospects and Their Relationship with Subjective Well-Being during COVID-19 Confinement in Spain: The Mediator Role of Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    9. Manuel Reiriz & Macarena Donoso-González & Benjamín Rodríguez-Expósito & Sara Uceda & Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Mental Health in Youth and Vulnerable Populations: An Extensive Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    10. Lorena Botella-Juan & Carmen Amezcua-Prieto & María M. Morales-Suarez-Varela & Ramona Mateos-Campos & Carlos Ayán-Pérez & Antonio José Molina & Rocío Ortiz-Moncada & Susana Redondo-Martín & Juan Algua, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Evolution of Prevalence and Patterns of Cannabis Use among First-Year University Students in Spain—UniHcos Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-13, September.
    11. Jonas Schmuck & Nina Hiebel & Milena Kriegsmann-Rabe & Juliane Schneider & Julia-Katharina Matthias & Yesim Erim & Eva Morawa & Lucia Jerg-Bretzke & Petra Beschoner & Christian Albus & Kerstin Weidner, 2022. "Individual Stress Burden and Mental Health in Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderating and Mediating Effects of Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-15, May.
    12. Daniel T. L. Shek & Janet T. Y. Leung & Lindan Tan, 2023. "Social Policies and Theories on Quality of Life under COVID-19: In Search of the Missing Links," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(3), pages 1149-1165, June.
    13. Csanád Szabó & Judit Pukánszky & Lajos Kemény, 2020. "Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hungarian Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    14. Jesús Maximiliano Granados Villalpando & Guadalupe del Carmen Baeza Flores & Jorge Luis Ble Castillo & Karla del Socorro Celorio Méndez & Isela Esther Juárez Rojop & José Antonio Morales Contreras & V, 2023. "Mental Health Disorders and Coping Strategies in Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in Southeastern Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    15. Finiki Nearchou & Ellen Douglas, 2021. "Traumatic Distress of COVID-19 and Depression in the General Population: Exploring the Role of Resilience, Anxiety, and Hope," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    16. Leoni-Johanna Speichert & Adam Schweda & Oliver Witzke & Margarethe Konik & Hana Rohn & Mark Stettner & Venja Musche & Klaas Herchert & Madeleine Fink & Sheila Geiger & Alexander Bäuerle & Eva-Maria S, 2022. "Fear of Death during COVID-19 Does Not Explain Post-Infection Depression Symptoms beyond Reported Symptoms during the Infection in COVID-19 Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.
    17. Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Pattaphol Yuktadatta & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2022. "Who Became Lonely during the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Investigation of the Socioeconomic Aspects of Loneliness in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Tara N. Officer & Fiona Imlach & Eileen McKinlay & Jonathan Kennedy & Megan Pledger & Lynne Russell & Marianna Churchward & Jacqueline Cumming & Karen McBride-Henry, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown and Wellbeing: Experiences from Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    19. Amoneeta Beckstein & Marie Chollier & Sangeeta Kaur & Ananta Raj Ghimire, 2022. "Mental Wellbeing and Boosting Resilience to Mitigate the Adverse Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Critical Narrative Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    20. Rosa Mª Baños & Juan J. Garcés & Marta Miragall & Rocío Herrero & Mª Dolores Vara & Emilio Soria-Olivas, 2022. "Exploring the Heterogeneity and Trajectories of Positive Functioning Variables, Emotional Distress, and Post-traumatic Growth During Strict Confinement Due to COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1683-1708, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7178-:d:836748. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.