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Rapid assessment of psychological and epidemiological correlates of COVID-19 concern, financial strain, and health-related behavior change in a large online sample

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  • Benjamin W Nelson
  • Adam Pettitt
  • Jessica E Flannery
  • Nicholas B Allen

Abstract

COVID-19 emerged in November 2019 leading to a global pandemic that has not only resulted in widespread medical complications and loss of life, but has also impacted global economies and transformed daily life. The current rapid response study in a convenience online sample quickly recruited 2,065 participants across the United States, Canada, and Europe in late March and early April 2020. Cross-sectional findings indicated elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to historical norms, which were positively associated with COVID-19 concern more strongly than epidemiological data signifying risk (e.g., world and country confirmed cases). Employment loss was positively associated with greater depressive symptoms and COVID-19 concern, and depressive symptoms and COVID-19 concern were significantly associated with more stringent self-quarantine behavior. The rapid collection of data during the early phase of this pandemic is limited by under-representation of non-White and middle age and older adults. Nevertheless, these findings have implications for interventions to slow the spread of COVID-19 infection.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin W Nelson & Adam Pettitt & Jessica E Flannery & Nicholas B Allen, 2020. "Rapid assessment of psychological and epidemiological correlates of COVID-19 concern, financial strain, and health-related behavior change in a large online sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0241990
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241990
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    1. Boas, Taylor C. & Christenson, Dino P. & Glick, David M., 2020. "Recruiting large online samples in the United States and India: Facebook, Mechanical Turk, and Qualtrics," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 232-250, April.
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    2. Muddassar Sarfraz & Xiangbo Ji & Muhammad Asghar & Larisa Ivascu & Ilknur Ozturk, 2022. "Signifying the Relationship between Fear of COVID-19, Psychological Concerns, Financial Concerns and Healthcare Employees Job Performance: A Mediated Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Zuojin Yu & Aurora B. Le & Alexa Doerr & Todd D. Smith, 2022. "Level of Concern, Spending, and External Support Related to COVID-19: A Comparison between Working and Non-Working Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-10, September.
    4. Botha, Ferdi & Butterworth, Peter & Wilkins, Roger, 2022. "Protecting mental health during periods of financial stress: Evidence from the Australian Coronavirus Supplement income support payment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    5. Franziska Maria Keller & Alina Dahmen & Christina Derksen & Lukas Kötting & Sonia Lippke, 2021. "Implementing Digital Trainings within Medical Rehabilitations: Improvement of Mental Health and Synergetic Outcomes with Healthcare Service," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-17, August.
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    7. Sabrina Suffren & Karine Dubois-Comtois & Jean-Pascal Lemelin & Diane St-Laurent & Tristan Milot, 2021. "Relations between Child and Parent Fears and Changes in Family Functioning Related to COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Tehila Refaeli & Netta Achdut, 2021. "Financial Strain and Loneliness among Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Psychosocial Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Alessandra Accoto & Salvatore Gaetano Chiarella & Antonino Raffone & Antonella Montano & Adriano de Marco & Francesco Mainiero & Roberta Rubbino & Alessandro Valzania & David Conversi, 2021. "Beneficial Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on the Well-Being of a Female Sample during the First Total Lockdown Due to COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Natalia Sauer & Agnieszka Sałek & Wojciech Szlasa & Tomasz Ciecieląg & Jakub Obara & Sara Gaweł & Dominik Marciniak & Katarzyna Karłowicz-Bodalska, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Well-Being of College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Alina Geprägs & David Bürgin & Jörg M. Fegert & Elmar Brähler & Vera Clemens, 2022. "The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Population-Based Survey in German," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    12. Hélène Rossinot & Romain Fantin & Julien Venne, 2020. "Behavioral Changes During COVID-19 Confinement in France: A Web-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Maria Dosil-Santamaria & Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria & Nahia Idoiaga Mondragon & Hiram Reyes-Sosa & Javier Santabárbara, 2022. "Emotional State of Mexican University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-11, February.
    14. Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2021. "Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison between Older and Younger People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Ibraheem M. Karaye & Nadia Koyratty & Stephanie Rogus & Lauren Clay, 2022. "Association between Food Worry and Self-Rated Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," World, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-10, November.
    16. Babin, J. Jobu & Foray, Marine & Hussey, Andrew, 2021. "Shelter-in-place orders, loneliness, and collaborative behavior," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    17. Abrar Tounsi & Shahad Alammar & Nassr Almaflehi & Mohamed Bamashmous & Abdullah Al Madani & Maria Salem Ibrahim, 2021. "Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Lauren A. Clay & Stephanie Rogus, 2021. "Impact of Employment, Essential Work, and Risk Factors on Food Access during the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York State," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    19. Soomin Ryu & Lu Fan, 2023. "The Relationship Between Financial Worries and Psychological Distress Among U.S. Adults," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 16-33, March.

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