Psychological Distress Enhances Vulnerability To COVID-19, Study Finds

Spread the love

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced increased social isolation and negatively impacted psychological well-being. A study conducted at the University of Nottingham revealed that people who experienced elevated psychological distress in the early months of the pandemic were significantly associated with greater risks of contacting and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. In fact, the reported symptomatic experience of SARS-CoV-2 was noted for its variety and severity.

In the UK, 1087 participants, as part of a longitudinal prospective observational cohort study, completed validated measures of psychological well-being during April 2020. They self-reported incidence of COVID-19 infection and symptom experience across the pandemic through to December 2020. The study used regression models to explore relationships in demographic, psychological, and occupational factors. In this study, psychological distress was operationalized as a constellation of increased stress, anxiety, depression, and low levels of positive mood.

The findings, published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine, confirmed the irrefutable ‘vulnerability’ link between psychological distress and the development of viral infections—in this case, SARS-CoV-2. The research contributed to the debate around the mental health aspects of the pandemic. The researchers looked to further investigation into the influence of psychological well-being on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. With the success of such vaccines playing a critical role in the route out of the pandemic, understanding the role of psychological factors in vaccine effectiveness and the potential for psychological interventions to enhance effectiveness could be important areas for future research.

Professor Kavita Vedhara, of the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, led the study—along with colleagues from King’s College London and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She said, “Further work is now needed to determine whether and how public health policy should change to accommodate the fact that the most distressed people in our communities appear to be at greatest risk of Covid-19 infection.”

To Know More You May Relate To

Ayling, K., Jia, R., Coupland, C., Chalder, T., Massey, A., Broadbent, E., & Vedhara, K. (2022). Psychological predictors of self-reported COVID-19 outcomes: Results from a prospective cohort study. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/abm/advance-article/doi/10.1093/abm/kaab106/6494327


Spread the love

Leave a Reply

  • Actor Ezra Miller Seeking Treatment For “Complex Mental Health Issues” Makes A Strong Case For Mental Healthcare
  • How Brain Responses To Stress And Trauma Raise PTSD Risk?

    How Brain Responses To Stress And Trauma Raise PTSD Risk?

    Researchers explored the link between strong brain activity and the…

  • How Sports Help Kids Develop Grit To Tackle Crisis In Adulthood?

    How Sports Help Kids Develop Grit To Tackle Crisis In Adulthood?

    Researchers explored the long-term benefits of sports participation.

  • Daily Blue Light Exposure Lowers Life Span, Study Finds

    Daily Blue Light Exposure Lowers Life Span, Study Finds

    Researchers examined the damaging effects of blue light exposure on…

  • Mental Health Days For Students: A Boon Or A Bane?

    Mental Health Days For Students: A Boon Or A Bane?

    Experts revealed the benefits of student mental health days for…

  • Women Make Competitive Decisions on Behalf Of Others, But Not For Themselves

    Women Make Competitive Decisions on Behalf Of Others, But Not For Themselves

    Researchers provide insights into the gender differences in competitive behavior.

  • Eating Ultra-Processed Foods May Up Dementia Risk: Study

    Eating Ultra-Processed Foods May Up Dementia Risk: Study

    Researchers studied how consuming ultra-processed foods may increase the risk…

  • The Importance Of Elders In Human Longevity: Surprising Study Finds 

    The Importance Of Elders In Human Longevity: Surprising Study Finds 

    Researchers study the link between the human lifespan and the…

  • How The Kanye West-Pete Davidson Saga Puts The Spotlight On Trauma Therapy And Online Bullying?

    How The Kanye West-Pete Davidson Saga Puts The Spotlight On Trauma Therapy And Online Bullying?

    How the Kim Kardashian-Pete Davidson break-up and the online abuse…

  • Research Reveals The Surprising Benefits Of Spending Time Alone

    Research Reveals The Surprising Benefits Of Spending Time Alone

    Researchers reveal the benefits of free-thinking.

  • Vagus Nerves Help Us In Learning New Skills, Study Finds

    Vagus Nerves Help Us In Learning New Skills, Study Finds

    Researchers explored the link between vagus nerve stimulation and new…

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation Helps You Deal With Tense Situations

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation Helps You Deal With Tense Situations

    Researchers studied the neural mechanisms behind PTSD and anxiety disorders.

  • What Prisoners’ Suicide Should Alert Us To?

    What Prisoners’ Suicide Should Alert Us To?

    Experts emphasize on the need to mandate mental health services…

  • Science Finds What Makes Us Cranky When Hungry

    Science Finds What Makes Us Cranky When Hungry

    Researchers explored the link between hunger, anger, and irritability.

  • Household Chores and Social Visits Linked To Lower Dementia Risk: Study Finds

    Household Chores and Social Visits Linked To Lower Dementia Risk: Study Finds

    Researchers explored how everyday physical and mental activities can lower…

  • Grief Can Increase The Risk Of Death By Heart Failure, Study Finds

    Grief Can Increase The Risk Of Death By Heart Failure, Study Finds

    Researchers explored the link between grief, heart failure, and death.

  • Did You Know Gardening Affects Mental Health?

    Did You Know Gardening Affects Mental Health?

    Researchers provided interesting insights into how gardening affects mental health.

  • How Self-Compassion Lowers Boredom? Surprising Study Finds

    How Self-Compassion Lowers Boredom? Surprising Study Finds

    Can self-compassion help us manage boredom? Recent studies show that…

  • Study Finds The Link Between Hypothyroidism And Dementia

    Study Finds The Link Between Hypothyroidism And Dementia

    Researchers studied the link between hypothyroidism and dementia.

  • Adventurous Play Improves Children’s Mental Health, Study Finds

    Adventurous Play Improves Children’s Mental Health, Study Finds

    Researchers reveal how adventurous play improves mental health in children.

  • A High-fat Diet Shrinks Our Brain, Research Says

    A High-fat Diet Shrinks Our Brain, Research Says

    Researchers explore how a long-term high-fat diet causes cognitive impairment.

  • Can Early Mental Health Screening Predict Suicide In Children?

    Can Early Mental Health Screening Predict Suicide In Children?

    Experts opine on the benefits of mental health screening for…

  • Can Online Art Viewing Boost Our Mental Health?

    Can Online Art Viewing Boost Our Mental Health?

    Researchers revealed how online art viewing is linked to sound…

  • Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Pain, Study Finds

    Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Pain, Study Finds

    Researchers revealed how mindfulness meditation reduces pain.

  • The Dangers Of Drinking Alone In Teens: Surprising research shows

    The Dangers Of Drinking Alone In Teens: Surprising research shows

    Researchers explored the link between solitary drinking and alcoholism in…

  • Low Moods Make Your Children’s Food Choices Unhealthy: Study

    Low Moods Make Your Children’s Food Choices Unhealthy: Study

    Researchers studied the link between emotions and children’s unhealthy food…

  • Our Brains Hear Sounds When We Sleep, Study Finds

    Our Brains Hear Sounds When We Sleep, Study Finds

    Researchers studied how our brains react to sounds when we…