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Cognitive and emotional factors related to COVID-19 among high-risk ethnically diverse adults at the onset of the New York City outbreak: A cross-sectional survey

Author

Listed:
  • Rita Kukafka

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Mari Millery

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Samuel Pan

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Thomas B. Silverman

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Tianmai Zhang

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Julia E. McGuinness

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Katherine D. Crew

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

  • Alejandra N. Aguirre

    (Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among high-risk, racially/ethnically diverse adults at the point in time when New York City (NYC) became the COVID-19 pandemic’s global epicenter. The study objective was to assess the threat and coping appraisals (cognitive factors known to correspond with people’s willingness to adopt behaviorally focused interventions) and levels of distress, anxiety, and intolerance for uncertainty (emotional factors). Survey respondents were recruited in April 2020 using an online survey with unpaid recruitment on the GetHealthyHeights.org community-oriented website. We also recruited participants that engaged in previous research studies to gain survey responses from community members at higher risk for COVID-19 complications due to comorbidities compared to the general population. Analysis was performed to test for differences in survey responses by comorbidities, age, race, ethnicity, and employment status. Results show that the devastating effects of the pandemic appear to have uniquely impacted minority respondents, who reported significantly higher levels of anxiety and were significantly more likely to report having little control over whether they will get COVID-19 compared with White/non-Hispanic respondents. Minority respondents also had significantly higher mean scores on the behaviorally focused dimension of the intolerance of uncertainty (IU) scale, which measures avoidance and paralysis in the face of uncertainty. In multivariate analysis, IU predicted anxiety levels, and this association was not mediated by cognitive factors (threat and coping appraisals). By conducting this survey early in the pandemic, our study uniquely evaluated cognitive and emotional factors among a racially/ethnically diverse group of NYC residents during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest the need to acknowledge the disparities that appear to exist in pandemic response and for culturally tailored messaging and interventions. Few studies have reported differences by race and ethnicity during pandemic exposure. Therefore, further research on factors that may influence pandemic response among minority populations is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Rita Kukafka & Mari Millery & Samuel Pan & Thomas B. Silverman & Tianmai Zhang & Julia E. McGuinness & Katherine D. Crew & Alejandra N. Aguirre, 2023. "Cognitive and emotional factors related to COVID-19 among high-risk ethnically diverse adults at the onset of the New York City outbreak: A cross-sectional survey," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-01679-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01679-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karoline S. Sauer & Stefanie M. Jungmann & Michael Witthöft, 2020. "Emotional and Behavioral Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Health Anxiety, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Distress (In)Tolerance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Joseph Benitez & Charles Courtemanche & Aaron Yelowitz, 2020. "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19: Evidence from Six Large Cities," Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 243-261, December.
    3. Minjung Lee & Myoungsoon You, 2020. "Psychological and Behavioral Responses in South Korea During the Early Stages of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Smith, Richard D., 2006. "Responding to global infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from SARS on the role of risk perception, communication and management," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(12), pages 3113-3123, December.
    5. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
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