Specific Pandemic-Related Worries Predict Higher Attention-Related Errors and Negative Affect Independent of Trait Anxiety in UK-Based Students
Authors: Brown, C.R.H., Feng, Y.C., Costin, V., Hirsch, C.R., Wang, Y.H., Wang, Y.L., Chew, J., Kenny, J. and Allen, P.
Journal: Cognitive Therapy and Research
Volume: 47
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-19
eISSN: 1573-2819
ISSN: 0147-5916
DOI: 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7
Abstract:Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many individuals experiencing increased symptoms of anxiety. We predict that this increase may be underpinned by pandemic-related worry (PRW), characterised by repetitive negative thinking about pandemic-specific outcomes; and that this relationship is mediated through reduced attentional capacity required to regulate negative affect. Methods: We developed a novel scale to measure the contents of PRW in an initial sample of 255 participants, and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning and negative affect in a sample of 382 UK-based university students, whilst controlling for recalled pre-pandemic trait anxiety. Results: A five-factor model of PRW was identified, with factors reflecting worry about decline in quality of life (QoL) and probability of infection correlating with attention and memory-related errors. Importantly, attention-related errors partially mediated the positive relationship between PRW and negative affect, even when controlling for pre-pandemic trait anxiety. Conclusion: PRW’s relationship with negative affect was partially mediated through attentional function, consistent with models of anxiety and attentional control. In UK-based students PRW may be predominantly focused on the decline in QoL; therefore, interventions targeting worry about the decline in QoL caused by COVID-19 are especially important in this population in the wake of the pandemic.
Source: Scopus
Specific Pandemic-Related Worries Predict Higher Attention-Related Errors and Negative Affect Independent of Trait Anxiety in UK-Based Students.
Authors: Brown, C.R.H., Feng, Y.-C., Costin, V., Hirsch, C.R., Wang, Y.-H., Wang, Y.-L., Chew, J., Kenny, J. and Allen, P.
Journal: Cognit Ther Res
Volume: 47
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-19
ISSN: 0147-5916
DOI: 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7
Abstract:BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many individuals experiencing increased symptoms of anxiety. We predict that this increase may be underpinned by pandemic-related worry (PRW), characterised by repetitive negative thinking about pandemic-specific outcomes; and that this relationship is mediated through reduced attentional capacity required to regulate negative affect. METHODS: We developed a novel scale to measure the contents of PRW in an initial sample of 255 participants, and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning and negative affect in a sample of 382 UK-based university students, whilst controlling for recalled pre-pandemic trait anxiety. RESULTS: A five-factor model of PRW was identified, with factors reflecting worry about decline in quality of life (QoL) and probability of infection correlating with attention and memory-related errors. Importantly, attention-related errors partially mediated the positive relationship between PRW and negative affect, even when controlling for pre-pandemic trait anxiety. CONCLUSION: PRW's relationship with negative affect was partially mediated through attentional function, consistent with models of anxiety and attentional control. In UK-based students PRW may be predominantly focused on the decline in QoL; therefore, interventions targeting worry about the decline in QoL caused by COVID-19 are especially important in this population in the wake of the pandemic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7.
Source: PubMed
Specific Pandemic-Related Worries Predict Higher Attention-Related Errors and Negative Affect Independent of Trait Anxiety in UK-Based Students
Authors: Brown, C.R.H., Feng, Y.-C., Costin, V., Hirsch, C.R., Wang, Y.-H., Wang, Y.-L., Chew, J., Kenny, J. and Allen, P.
Journal: COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH
Volume: 47
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-19
eISSN: 1573-2819
ISSN: 0147-5916
DOI: 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
Specific Pandemic-Related Worries Predict Higher Attention-Related Errors and Negative Affect Independent of Trait Anxiety in UK-Based Students.
Authors: Brown, C.R.H., Feng, Y.-C., Costin, V., Hirsch, C.R., Wang, Y.-H., Wang, Y.-L., Chew, J., Kenny, J. and Allen, P.
Journal: Cognitive therapy and research
Volume: 47
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-19
eISSN: 1573-2819
ISSN: 0147-5916
DOI: 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7
Abstract:Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many individuals experiencing increased symptoms of anxiety. We predict that this increase may be underpinned by pandemic-related worry (PRW), characterised by repetitive negative thinking about pandemic-specific outcomes; and that this relationship is mediated through reduced attentional capacity required to regulate negative affect.Methods
We developed a novel scale to measure the contents of PRW in an initial sample of 255 participants, and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning and negative affect in a sample of 382 UK-based university students, whilst controlling for recalled pre-pandemic trait anxiety.Results
A five-factor model of PRW was identified, with factors reflecting worry about decline in quality of life (QoL) and probability of infection correlating with attention and memory-related errors. Importantly, attention-related errors partially mediated the positive relationship between PRW and negative affect, even when controlling for pre-pandemic trait anxiety.Conclusion
PRW's relationship with negative affect was partially mediated through attentional function, consistent with models of anxiety and attentional control. In UK-based students PRW may be predominantly focused on the decline in QoL; therefore, interventions targeting worry about the decline in QoL caused by COVID-19 are especially important in this population in the wake of the pandemic.Supplementary information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7.Source: Europe PubMed Central