Predicting COVID-19-related anxiety: The role of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance

• Published in: Journal of anxiety disorders Vol. 83; p. 102460
• Main Authors: Ojalehto, Heidi J., Abramowitz, Jonathan S., Hellberg, Samantha N., Butcher, Megan W., Buchholz, Jennifer L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety sensitivity; Body vigilance; COVID-19; COVID-19-related anxiety; Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Obsessive-compulsive symptoms; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19-related anxiety; Body vigilance; Obsessive-compulsive symptoms; Anxiety sensitivity
• ISSN: 0887-6185; 1873-7897
• DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102460

•The present study examined psychological predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety.•A community sample in the United States (N = 438) was surveyed from August to November of 2020.•Certain OC symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance predicted more severe COVID-19-related anxiety. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first detected in December of 2019 and declared a global pandemic in March of 2020, continues to pose a serious threat to public health and safety worldwide. Many individuals report anxiety in response to this threat, and at high levels, such anxiety can result in adverse mental health outcomes and maladaptive behavioral responses that have consequences for the health of communities more broadly. Predictors of excessive anxiety in response to COVID-19 are understudied. Accordingly, the present study examined psychological factors that predict more intense COVID-19-related anxiety. 438 community members completed measures assessing COVID-19-related anxiety as well as psychological variables hypothesized to predict anxious responding to the threat of COVID-19. As expected, obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to contamination, the fear of arousal-related body sensations (i.e., anxiety sensitivity), and body vigilance each predicted more severe anxiety related to the pandemic. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to responsibility for causing harm also emerged as a predictor. Study limitations and implications are discussed.