Nikčević, Ana, Distaso, W. and Spada, M.M. (2021) A cross-continental examination of the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome, COVID-19 anxiety and psychological distress. In: EABCT 2021: CBT Back to the Future: Celebrating 50 years of CBT in Europe; 8 - 11 Sep 2021, ICC (International Conference Centre), Belfast. (Unpublished)

Abstract

Background: A significant body of research since the beginning of the pandemic has demonstrated its various negative consequences on people’s mental health including elevated levels of post-traumatic stress, general stress, anxiety, health anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Early on in the pandemic, COVID-19-related specific assessment tools were developed to assess fear, threat, anxiety and stress in relation to possible infection. Adding to this body of literature, Nikčević and Spada developed a measure to assess a pandemic-related phenomenon which they termed the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome (Nikčević & Spada, 2020). The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome was described as a collection of coping behaviours characterized by avoidance, checking, worrying and threat monitoring (combined) in relation to the perceived threat of COVID-19 infection. In a series of studies it was demonstrated that this type of threat-focussed coping plays a role in psychological adjustment, work and social functioning, and COVID-19 anxiety independently from experiential factors (e.g., high risk and vaccination status), personality traits, and health anxiety. Aims: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relative contribution of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome to COVID-19 anxiety and psychological distress across three continents: Europe, Asia and North America. Method: A cross-sectional sample (N = 5000+) of participants balanced for gender was recruited from four European countries (UK, Sweden, Germany, and Italy), China and the USA. Results: The findings were aligned with previous results suggesting that the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome contributed to COVID-19 anxiety and psychological distress, whilst controlling for a wide range of background and experiential factors, personality traits, and health anxiety. Conclusions: This study provides further support for the relevance of this pandemic-related coping construct and the role it plays in pandemic-related distress.

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