Publication date: Aug 01, 2024

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, studies documented a marked decline in mental health and well-being when compared with prepandemic levels. This study examined how different coping styles were associated with anxiety, depression, and sleep problems among U. S. adults March-April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 535 U. S. adults across three time points were analyzed using longitudinal multilevel logistic and linear regression modeling. Avoidant-emotional coping was associated with greater odds of experiencing anxiety (OR = 1. 65, p < .001). Both avoidant- and active-emotional coping were associated with greater odds of experiencing depression (OR = 1. 67, p < .001, and OR = 1. 09, p = .022, respectively) and sleep problems (b = 0. 05, p < .001, and b = 0. 01, p = .005, respectively). Alternatively, problem-focused coping was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0. 86, p < .001). Results converge with previous evidence suggesting the perniciousness of avoidant-emotional coping during the pandemic, but also underscore that problem-focused coping strategies may represent one important source of resilience for adults to adapt despite such challenges.

Semantics

Original Article