A Stress-is-Enhancing Mindset is Associated with Lower Traumatic Stress Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah Williams*, Annie Ginty

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Background: A stress-is-enhancing mindset is associated with lower perceived stress and better coping. However, work examining the prospective associations of stress mindset on perceived traumatic stress symptoms during a stressful real-world life event is limited. The present prospective study explored whether stress-is-enhancing mindset measured before the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic was associated with later traumatic stress symptoms in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Methods: University students (N = 179; 68% female; Mage = 19.31, SD = 0.79 years) completed the Stress Mindset Measure (SMM) prior to COVID-19 pandemic onset as part of a larger study. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic was completed 1 year into the pandemic.

Results: SMM negatively predicted the IES-R subscales intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal such that a more stress-is-enhancing mindset was associated with lower intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal following the onset of COVID-19.

Conclusions: Results suggest a more positive stress mindset is associated with fewer traumatic stress symptoms following a traumatic life event. Altering stress mindset may be an avenue for future interventions to cope with stress.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages12
JournalAnxiety, Stress and Coping
Early online date15 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 15 Nov 2023

Keywords

  • coping
  • coronavirus
  • posttraumatic stress
  • resilience
  • prospective studies
  • well-being

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