Psychosocial predictors of virus and social distancing fears in undergraduate students living in a US COVID-19 “hotspot”
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is positioned to exact a substantial mental health toll on the global population. Heightened fears of viral contamination and fears of the negative consequences of social distancing (e.g., fears related to home confinement, fears of loneliness and isolation) might contribute to the distress caused by the pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected from undergraduates ( N = 608) residing in a U.S. pandemic "hotspot" at the time of data collection (between 7 April to 9 May, 2020). Outcome variables included viral contamination fears and social distancing fears. Predictor variables included biological sex, underlying medical vulnerability, number of recent viral symptoms, presence of positive COVID-19 test in social network, anxiety, depression, stress, emotion dysregulation, intolerance of uncertainty, body vigilance, and health anxiety. Female sex, anxiety severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and health anxiety uniquely predicted fears of viral contamination. Female sex and depression severity uniquely predicted fears of social distancing. Multiple anxiety-related vulnerabilities are potential intervention targets for reducing viral contamination fears. Depression is a potential intervention target for social distancing fears. Females might be at greater risk for both types of fears.
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Intolerance to uncertainty is an important cognitive risk factor for anxiety disorders and depression.
“Intolerance to uncertainty has been explained to be an important cognitive risk factor for anxiety disorders and depression (Carleton et al. 2007, Elsharkawy & Abdelaziz 2020, Fedorenko et al. 2021, Zhuo et al. 2021).”
From DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH TECHNICIAN STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS LEVELS (2023) · cites this paper as Fedorenko et al. 2021
A positive relationship exists between intolerance of uncertainty and depression, anxiety, and stress in individuals over 18 years of age.
“In the literature, a positive relationship was found between intolerance for uncertainty with depression, anxiety, and stress in individuals over 18 years of age (Bakioğlu et al. 2020, Fedorenko et al. 2021, Zhuo et al. 2021).”
From DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH TECHNICIAN STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS LEVELS (2023) · cites this paper as Fedorenko et al. 2021
As fear of COVID-19 viral contamination and social distancing increased in students, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress also increased.
“As fear of COVID-19 viral contamination and social distancing increased in students, so did symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Fedorenko et al. 2021).”
From DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH TECHNICIAN STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS LEVELS (2023) · cites this paper as Fedorenko et al. 2021
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“As fear of COVID-19 viral contamination and social distanc - ing increased in students, so did symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Fedorenko et al. 2021).”
- Authors
- Fedorenko, E. J., Kibbey, M. M., Contrada, R. J., & Farris, S. G.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Farris, Samantha G.
- Venue
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-02-15
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 217-233
- ISSN
- 1650-6073 (ISSN-L)
- 1651-2316
- OpenAlex
- W3132441363
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 4
- FWCI
- 4.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, psychosocial predictors, undergraduate students, sex differences, anxiety, depression, stress, emotional dysregulation, intolerance of uncertainty, health anxiety, body vigilance, loneliness and isolation, home confinement, medical vulnerability, viral symptoms
- MeSH terms
- Physical Distancing, COVID-19, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Fear, Female, Humans, Loneliness, Male, Mental Health, Students, Young Adult, Pandemics
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