IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v67y2021i5p540-549.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coping styles and mental health in response to societal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Caroline Gurvich
  • Natalie Thomas
  • Elizabeth HX Thomas
  • Abdul-Rahman Hudaib
  • Lomash Sood
  • Kali Fabiatos
  • Keith Sutton
  • Anton Isaacs
  • Shalini Arunogiri
  • Gemma Sharp
  • Jayashri Kulkarni

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial responses to infectious disease outbreaks have the potential to inflict acute and longstanding mental health consequences. Early research across the globe has found wide ranging psychological responses to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how different coping styles can be effective in mitigating mental ill health would enable better tailored psychological support. Aims: The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of psychosocial responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including depression, anxiety and distress, as well as effective coping styles in an Australian sample. Method: A sample of 1,495 adults, residing in Australia between April 3rd and May 3rd 2020, completed an online survey which measured psychological distress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised), depression, anxiety, stress (DASS-21), as well as coping strategies (Brief COPE). Results: 47% of the respondents were experiencing some degree of psychological distress. Females experienced higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than males. Coping strategies associated with better mental health were positive reframing, acceptance and humour. Conversely, self-blame, venting, behavioural disengagement and self-distraction were associated with poorer mental health. Conclusion: Rates of psychological symptoms amongst the Australian population are similar to those reported in other countries. Findings add to the growing literature demonstrating a gender disparity in the mental health impacts of COVID-19. Positive emotion focused coping strategies may be effective for reducing psychological symptoms. Understanding psychosocial responses including beneficial coping strategies are crucial to manage the current COVID-19 situation optimally, as well as to develop mental health response plans for future pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Gurvich & Natalie Thomas & Elizabeth HX Thomas & Abdul-Rahman Hudaib & Lomash Sood & Kali Fabiatos & Keith Sutton & Anton Isaacs & Shalini Arunogiri & Gemma Sharp & Jayashri Kulkarni, 2021. "Coping styles and mental health in response to societal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(5), pages 540-549, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:67:y:2021:i:5:p:540-549
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764020961790
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764020961790
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0020764020961790?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    2. Folkman, Susan & Lazarus, Richard S., 1988. "The relationship between coping and emotion: Implications for theory and research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 309-317, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hilal Altundal Duru & Serpil Yılmaz & Zeliha Yaman & Münevver Boğahan & Mualla Yılmaz, 2023. "Individuals’ Coping Styles and Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    2. Anna Maria Cybulska & Katarzyna Głębicka & Marzanna Stanisławska & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska & Elżbieta Grochans & Kamila Rachubińska, 2023. "The Relationship between Social Support and Mental Health Problems of Peri- and Postmenopausal Women during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Ayse Nuray Karanci & Gözde Ikizer & İlknur Dilekler Aldemir & Ayça Bilgehan & Cansu Karagöz, 2023. "How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect individuals with schizophrenia from Turkey?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 277-285, March.
    4. Wenxia Zhou & Zhen Pan & Qiuping Jin & Yue Feng, 2022. "Impact of Self-Perceived Employability on Sustainable Career Development in Times of COVID-19: Two Mediating Paths," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Shu-Yen Lee & Kai-Jo Chiang & Yi-Jiun Tsai & Chi-Kang Lin & Yun-Ju Wang & Chou-Ping Chiou & Hsueh-Hsing Pan, 2022. "Perceived Stress and Coping Behavior of Nurses Caring for Critical Patients with COVID-19 Outbreak in Taiwan: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Karolina Kostorz & Jacek Polechoński & Anna Zwierzchowska, 2022. "Coping Strategies for Stress Used by People Working in Managerial Positions in Schools and Educational Establishments during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    7. Joanna Chwaszcz & Michał Wiechetek & Rafał P. Bartczuk & Iwona Niewiadomska & Patrycja Wośko, 2022. "Determinants of Quality of Life in the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation among Persons Using Psychological Help at Various Stages of the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Rosann Cholankeril & Ellen Xiang & Hoda Badr, 2023. "Gender Differences in Coping and Psychological Adaptation during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.
    9. Ulrika Tranaeus & Andreas Ivarsson & Urban Johnson & Nathan Weiss & Martin Samuelsson & Eva Skillgate, 2021. "The Role of the Results of Functional Tests and Psychological Factors on Prediction of Injuries in Adolescent Female Football Players," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Andrei Shpakou & Ihar A. Naumau & Tatyana Yu. Krestyaninova & Alena V. Znatnova & Svetlana V. Lollini & Sergei Surkov & Aleh Kuzniatsou, 2022. "Physical Activity, Life Satisfaction, Stress Perception and Coping Strategies of University Students in Belarus during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.
    11. Huiyue Liu & Qiancai Tan & Huiping Mai, 2023. "Stress-Buffering Effects of Social Support on Tourism Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-20, January.
    12. Alessandro Miola & Stefano Caiolo & Giancarlo Pontoni & Erica Pozzan & Chiara Moriglia & Filippo Simionato & Sergio Garofalo & Giulia Perini & Fabio Sambataro, 2023. "Anxiety and Depression during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Coping Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    13. Ion Papava & Liana Dehelean & Radu Stefan Romosan & Mariana Bondrescu & Cristian Zoltan Dimeny & Eugenia Maria Domuta & Felix Bratosin & Iulia Bogdan & Mirela Loredana Grigoras & Codruta Victoria Tigm, 2022. "The Impact of Hyper-Acute Inflammatory Response on Stress Adaptation and Psychological Symptoms of COVID-19 Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.

    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. Sonia Nawrocka & Hans De Witte & Margherita Pasini & Margherita Brondino, 2023. "A Person-Centered Approach to Job Insecurity: Is There a Reciprocal Relationship between the Quantitative and Qualitative Dimensions of Job Insecurity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Md. Mominur Rahman & Bilkis Akhter, 2021. "The impact of investment in human capital on bank performance: evidence from Bangladesh," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Masashi Soga & Kevin J. Gaston & Yuichi Yamaura & Kiyo Kurisu & Keisuke Hanaki, 2016. "Both Direct and Vicarious Experiences of Nature Affect Children’s Willingness to Conserve Biodiversity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-12, May.
    4. César Merino-Soto & Gina Chávez-Ventura & Verónica López-Fernández & Guillermo M. Chans & Filiberto Toledano-Toledano, 2022. "Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-L): Psychometric and Measurement Invariance Evidence in Peruvian Undergraduate Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Nathaniel Oliver Iotti & Damiano Menin & Tomas Jungert, 2022. "Early Adolescents’ Motivations to Defend Victims of Cyberbullying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    6. AJ Golio, 2024. "Whose Neighborhood Now? Gentrification and Community Life in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods," Working Papers 24-29, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    7. Peter Tavel & Bibiana Jozefiakova & Peter Telicak & Jana Furstova & Michal Puza & Natalia Kascakova, 2022. "Psychometric Analysis of the Shortened Version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale on the Slovak Population (SWBS-Sk)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Allen, Jaime & Eboli, Laura & Forciniti, Carmen & Mazzulla, Gabriella & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "The role of critical incidents and involvement in transit satisfaction and loyalty," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 57-69.
    9. Christoph Dworschak, 2024. "Bias mitigation in empirical peace and conflict studies: A short primer on posttreatment variables," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 61(3), pages 462-476, May.
    10. Andreea-Ionela Puiu & Anca Monica Ardeleanu & Camelia Cojocaru & Anca Bratu, 2021. "Exploring the Effect of Status Quo, Innovativeness, and Involvement Tendencies on Luxury Fashion Innovations: The Mediation Role of Status Consumption," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Slupphaug, KJell & Mehmetoglu, Mehmet & Mittner, Matthias, 2024. "modsem: An R package for estimating latent interactions and quadratic effects," OSF Preprints h3rpw, Center for Open Science.
    12. Andres Trujillo-Barrera & Joost M. E. Pennings & Dianne Hofenk, 2016. "Understanding producers' motives for adopting sustainable practices: the role of expected rewards, risk perception and risk tolerance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 43(3), pages 359-382.
    13. Daria J. Kuss & Lydia Harkin & Eiman Kanjo & Joel Billieux, 2018. "Problematic Smartphone Use: Investigating Contemporary Experiences Using a Convergent Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    14. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "On evasion behaviour in public transport: Dissatisfaction or contagion?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 626-651.
    15. Cloarec, Julien, 2022. "Privacy controls as an information source to reduce data poisoning in artificial intelligence-powered personalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 144-153.
    16. Merkle, Edgar C. & Steyvers, Mark & Mellers, Barbara & Tetlock, Philip E., 2017. "A neglected dimension of good forecasting judgment: The questions we choose also matter," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 817-832.
    17. Sai-fu Fung & Esther Oi-wah Chow & Chau-kiu Cheung, 2020. "Development and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of a Brief Wisdom Development Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-14, April.
    18. Goran Calic & Moren Lévesque & Anton Shevchenko, 2024. "On why women-owned businesses take more time to secure microloans," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 917-938, October.
    19. Dang Vu, Hoai Nam & Nielsen, Martin Reinhardt, 2022. "Understanding determinants of the intention to buy rhino horn in Vietnam through the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    20. Tahani Z. Aldahdouh & Petri Nokelainen & Vesa Korhonen, 2020. "Technology and Social Media Usage in Higher Education: The Influence of Individual Innovativeness," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440198, January.

    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:sae:socpsy:v:67:y:2021:i:5:p:540-549. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.