Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic: effects of optimism and uncertainty on distress during the lockdown in Spain

• Jordi Fernández Castro ^[1] ; Ramon Cladellas i Pros ^[1] ; María José Gómez Romero ^{[1] [3]} ; Auri García ^{[4] [5]} ; Itziar Iruarrizaga Díez ^[2] ; Joaquim T. Limonero García ^[1]
  1. [1] Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

     Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

     Barcelona, España

     
  2. [2] Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Madrid, España

     
  3. [3] Psychology Unit, Egarsat, Barcelona, Spain.
  4. [4] Diari ARA, Barcelona, Spain
  5. [5] Faculty of Business and Communication of the University of Vic-Universiat Central de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

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• Localización: Ansiedad y estrés, ISSN 1134-7937, Vol. 28, Nº 2 (Mayo - Agosto 2022), 2022, págs. 100-107
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.5093/anyes2022a11
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Impacto psicológico de la pandemia de COVID-19: efectos del optimismo y la incertidumbre sobre el malestar emocional durante el confinamiento en España
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• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen
  • español

    El objetivo de este estudio es realizar una valoración rápida de los recursos psicológicos y y el malestar emocional de la población general durante el encierro por la pandemia de COVID-19 (en Cataluña, España), y observar su evolución a lo largo de dos oleadas durante el confinamiento: a las dos semanas y al mes (del 1 al 3 de abril y del 17 al 19 de abril). El estudio longitudinal recopiló datos de 29.231 participantes de 18 años o más a través de una plataforma en línea que respondieron preguntas que evaluaban: optimismo, incertidumbre, competencia percibida, autoeficacia, malestar emoción, situación laboral actual, tristeza e ira y variables sociodemográficas. Los principales resultados indicaron que las creencias generales sobre el futuro, la incertidumbre y el optimismo, junto con las creencias sobre la propia conducta, como la competencia percibida ante la situación o la autoeficacia para mantener las rutinas, pueden predecir el malestar emocional que experimenta un individuo. Se encontró un patrón de género claro.

  • English

    The objective of this study is to make a quick assessment of the psychological resources and emotionaldistress of the general population locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic (in Catalonia, Spain), andto observe their evolution over the course of two waves during lockdown: at two weeks and at one month(April 1th to 3th and April 17th to 19th). The longitudinal study collected data from 29,231 participants aged18 or older through an online platform who answered questions which evaluated: optimism, uncertainty,perceived competence, self-efficacy, emotional distress, current job situation, sadness and anger in conjunctionwith sociodemographic variables. The main results indicated that general beliefs about the future,uncertainty, and optimism, together with beliefs about one’s own conduct, such as perceived competencewhen facing the situation or self-efficacy to maintain routines, could predict the emotional distress experiencedby an individual. A clear gender pattern was found. Between the two waves, optimism, perceivedcompetence to manage the situation and self-efficacy to maintain routines decrease, uncertainty grows,and emotional distress remains. Taking these results into account we can prevent possible emotional scarsand offer coping strategies to overcome the pandemic and the future situations of confinement in a moreefficient way.

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