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Kavanagh BE, O'Donohue JS, Ashton MM, Lotfaliany M, McCallum M, Wrobel AL, Croce S, Berk M, Saunders L, Lai J, Berk L. Coping with COVID-19: Exploring coping strategies, distress, and post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1025767. [PMID: 36339873 PMCID: PMC9630636 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1025767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore coping strategies, distress, and post-traumatic growth among Australians with and without a history of a mental health diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS Australians (N = 381) completed an online survey between 4-August 2020 and 25-October-2020. Coping strategies, distress, and post-traumatic growth were ascertained via the Brief COPE, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), respectively. Linear regression was conducted to examine the relationship between the Brief COPE, DASS-21, and PTGI, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Models were conducted separately for those with/without a history of a mental health diagnosis. RESULTS Higher distress was found among those with a history of a mental health diagnosis. Significant differences in the types of coping strategies associated with distress and post-traumatic growth were identified between the groups, however, behavioral disengagement and self-blame consistently predicted depression, anxiety, and stress. For those with a history of a mental health diagnosis, positive reframing decreased anxiety. Self-distraction was associated with post-traumatic growth across both groups. CONCLUSION There are important differences in the way people with and without a history of a mental health diagnosis cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca E Kavanagh
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Josephine S O'Donohue
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Melanie M Ashton
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Mojtaba Lotfaliany
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Maddy McCallum
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna L Wrobel
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Croce
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Berk
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lucy Saunders
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jerry Lai
- Deakin University, eResearch, Deakin eSolutions, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Intersect Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lesley Berk
- School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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