2021, Number 4
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Salud Mental 2021; 44 (4)
Coping strategies associated to widespread fear and post-traumatic stress criteria in a Mexican sample during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Chávez-Valdez SM, Domínguez RA, Esparza-Del Villar OA, Hernández JMJ, de la Rosa-Gómez A, Arenas-Landgrave P, Martínez-Luna SC, Ramírez-Martínez FR, Salinas-Saldívar JT
Language: English
References: 28
Page: 159-166
PDF size: 192.94 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the population generating widespread fear due to people’s
perception that both their health and safety are at risk. Widespread fear, a synonym for social anxiety,
is associated with affective intrusive cognitions. Likewise, it is related to symptoms of post-traumatic stress,
physiological intrusive and eluding coping responses, and could be associated with long-term vulnerability
to develop PTSD.
Objective. To assess the association between coping strategies, widespread fear to
COVID-19, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in Mexican population exposed to the SARS-CoV2
pandemic.
Method. A cross sectional, empirical, descriptive study through survey research was performed;
370 participants were sampled by nationality quotas, and they completed digital self-informed instruments on
an on-line psychosocial intervention. Sample size was estimated using a power analysis.
Results. Findings
showed reliable indicators between physiological coping and PTSD symptoms. There was a 42% variance
related to PTSD delayed intrusive cognitive responses, a 40% variance was related to PTSD negative alterations
in cognitions and mood, a 31% variance was explained by hyperarousal responses, and a 29% of the
variance represented PTSD avoidance symptoms. Widespread fear of COVID-19 was explained by affective
behavioral coping strategies linked also to PTSD symptoms.
Discussion and conclusion. Research found
consistency between findings and theories on emotion-centered strategies, which in turn were are related to
affective coping around widespread fear to COVID-19 and avoidance intrusive symptoms, physiological coping
with avoidance, considering future community post-traumatic stress traits and anxiety disorders in Mexican
communities exposed to the pandemic, linking strategies with community trauma.
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