Bakke SL, Winer ES, Brown AD. Recalling Self-efficacious Memories Reduces COVID-19-Related Fear.
COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2023;
47:1-8. [PMID:
37363751 PMCID:
PMC10153042 DOI:
10.1007/s10608-023-10377-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
Manipulating perceived self-efficacy can mitigate the negative impact of trauma and increase ability to adapt to stress. It is possible that a similar domain-based manipulation aimed at anxiety around the pandemic might mitigate the negative mental health impact of COVID-19. The current experimental study assessed whether a self-efficacy induction would be effective in reducing COVID-19 distress.
Methods
Participants were randomized to a self-efficacy autobiographical memory induction or control condition. We hypothesized that individuals in the self-efficacy group would exhibit lower levels of fear on an implicit measure of emotional states following exposure to COVID-19-related stimuli.
Results
A significant increase in general self-efficacy and self-confidence was found in the self-efficacy group from pre- to post-induction. Individuals in the self-efficacy group had significantly lower levels of fear counts on the implicit measure of emotional states than the control group following exposure to COVID-19-related stimuli.
Conclusions
Results suggest that (1) self-efficacy can be increased among individuals with high levels of COVID-19-related distress using an autobiographical memory induction and (2) doing so reduces fear processing among these individuals when exposed to COVID-19 stimuli. This is relevant for future intervention as it reveals a possible mechanism for reducing and recovering from COVID-19-related distress.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-023-10377-6.
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