Predicting PPE use, post-traumatic stress, and physical symptoms during the early weeks of COVID-19 lockdowns in the USA

The COVID-19 pandemic combined with inconsistent governmental and public health recommendations, media communications emphasizing threat, and widespread lockdowns created a complex psychological environment for Americans. In this study, 450 MTurk workers completed measures of (a) risk for COVID-19, (b) perceived vulnerability to disease, (c) intolerance of uncertainty, (d) mindfulness, (e) COVID-19 preventive health behaviors, (f) post-Trauma symptoms, and (g) stress related physical symptoms. The surveys were completed between April 9, 2020 and April 18, 2020 which is a period that corresponded to the first 2-3 weeks of lockdown for most participants.

A substantial number of participants reported a reduction employment status and 69% were in self-isolation. The participants reported a high degree of perceived vulnerability with 68% indicating they felt there was a 50/50 chance or greater they would contract COVID-19. Mask wearing was variable: 16% “not at all,” 20% “some of the time,” 42% “a good part of the time,” and 26% “most of the time.” Using clinical cutoff on the post-trauma scale, 70% of the sample would be considered to have symptoms consistent with PTSD. The mean level of physical symptoms was significantly ( p < .001) and substantially higher (d = 1.46) than norms.

PPE use was positively associated with level of education and mindfulness nonreactivity and negatively associated with age, having a current medical condition, and mindfulness nonjudgment. Post trauma and physical health symptoms were strongly predicted by susceptibility variables and intolerance of uncertainty.

Highlights

• COVID-19 created a complex psychological environment for Americans due to threat exposure combined with contradictory communications from government and media.

• In a survey of 450 Americans, 68% reported that there was a 50/50 chance of greater they would contract COVID-19 and 70% of participants reported symptoms that met criteria for PTSD.

• Mask wearing was variable with only 26% reporting use “most of the time.”

• Participants who reported: older age, having one or mode medical conditions, less educational attainment, and less judgmental attitudes about their own thinking reported lower PPE use.

• Intolerance of uncertainty and perceived susceptibility were associated with higher PTSD symptoms.

• Mindfulness awareness and being judgmental attitudes about thinking were associated with lower PTSD symptoms.