Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Relationship between COVID-19 Anxiety, Locus of Control and Psychological Well-being


Affiliations
1 M.Phil. Clinical Psychology Trainee, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 M.Phil. Clinical Psychology Trainee, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University Kolkata, West Bengal, India
3 Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata West Bengal, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


In present times, the impact of COVID-19 is not simply biological and social but is also characterized by socioemotional suggestions from various individual and environmental sources as well as experiences. The pandemic has created a general demand for a change of allocation of control in the internal and external factors by ways of affecting the individual's perception, information processing, daily life functioning and attitude towards the personal agency, consequences as well as personal well-being in general. In the context of a surge of mental health challenges due to the pandemic, it is crucial to study how control allocation is associated with the relationship between COVID-19 and well-being. The study aims to explore the relationship among locus of control, COVID-19 anxiety, and psychological well-being along with finding the mean differences in COVID-19 anxiety as well as psychological well-being between the two groups of locus of control. The study is conducted on a young adult sample (N=100) and the relationship among the variables is explored using relevant statistical analysis. The discussion explores the impact of COVID-19 anxiety and locus of control on various domains of psychological well-being. The implication of this study extends that, internal locus of control may be associated with positive psychological well-being and relatively better perceived coping of COVID-19 anxiety.

Keywords

COVID-19 anxiety, locus of control, psychological well-being
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Amaral-Prado, H., Borghi, F., Mello, T., & Grassi-Kassisse, D. (2020). The impact of confinement in the psychosocial behaviour due COVID-19 among members of a Brazilian university. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(6), 720-727. doi:10.1177/0020764020971318 References
  • Anglim, J., & Horwood, S. (2021). Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and big five personality on subjective and psychological well-being. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 12(8), 1527-1537. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620983 047
  • April, K., Dharani, B., & Peters, K. (2012). Impact of locus of control expectancy on level of well-being. Review of European Studies, 4(2), 124-137. https://doi.org/ 10.5539/res.v4n2p124
  • Badahdah, A., Khamis, F., & Mahyijari, N. (2020). The psychological well-being of physicians during COVID-19 outbreak in Oman. Psychiatry Research, 289, 113053. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113053
  • Banerjee, D., & Rai, M. (2020). Social isolation in covid-19: The impact of loneliness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(6), 525-527.
  • Barron Millar, E., Singhal, D., Vijayaraghavan, P., Seshadri, S., Smith, E., Dixon, P., Humble, S., Rodgers, J., & Sharma, A. N. (2021). Health anxiety, coping mechanisms and COVID 19: An Indian community sample at week 1 of lockdown. PLOS One, 16(4), e0250336. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0250336
  • Bellingtier, J., Mund, M., & Wrzus, C. (2021). The role of extraversion and neuroticism for experiencing stress during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Current Psychology, Dec 9, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02600-y
  • Bhullar, N., Hine, D., & Phillips, W. (2013). Profiles of psychological well-being in a sample of Australian university students. International Journal of Psychology, 49(4), 288-294. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12022
  • Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020, February 26). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet, 395(10227), 912-920.
  • Cantarero, K., van Tilburg, W. A. P., Smoktunowicz, E. (2020). Affirming basic psychological needs promotes mental well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak [Article]. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 12(5), 821-828. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620942708
  • Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. (2020, March 20). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Research, 287(112934), 1-5.
  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2006, November 18). Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 1-11. SpringerLink.
  • Galanti, T., Guidetti, G., Mazzei, E., Zappalà, S., & Toscano, F. (2021). Work from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 63(7), e426-e432. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000002236
  • Gassman-Pines, A., Ananat, E., & Fitz-Henley, J. (2020). COVID-19 and parent-child psychological well-being. Pediatrics, 146(4), 1-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-007294
  • Gawrych, M. (2020, December 10). Covid-19 pandemic fear, life satisfaction and mental health at the initial stage of the pandemic in the largest cities in Poland. Taylor and Francis.
  • Heanoy, E., Shi, L., & Brown, N. (2021). Assessing the transitional impact and mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic onset. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.607976
  • Hobfoll, S. E. (2001). The influence of culture, community, and the nested-self in the stress process: Advancing conservation of resources theory. Applied Psychology, 50, 337-421. doi:10.1111/1464-0597.00062
  • Hope, N. H., Wakefield, M. A., Northey, L., & Chapman, A. L. (2018). The association between locus of control, emotion regulation and borderline personality disorder features. Personality and Mental Health, 12(3), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1002 /pmh.1419
  • Hovenkamp-Hermelink, J., Jeronimus, B., van der Veen, D., Spinhoven, P., Penninx, B., Schoevers, R., & Riese, H. (2019). Differential associations of locus of control with anxiety, depression and life-events: A five-wave, nine-year study to test stability and change. Journal of Affective Disorders, 253, 26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.005
  • Huppert, F.A. (2009). Psychological well-being: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 1, 137-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01008.x
  • Joaquim, R. M., Pinto, A. L. C. B., Guatimosim, R. F., Paula, J. J. de, Costa, D. S., Diaz, A. P., Silva, A. G. da, Pinheiro, M. I. C., Serpa, A. L. O., Miranda, D. M., & Malloy- Diniz, L. F. (2021). Bereavement and psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemics: The impact of death experience on mental health. Current Research in Behavioral Science, 2(100019), 1-7.
  • Kang, Y., Cosme, D., Pei, R., Pandey, P., Carreras-Tartak, J., & Falk, E. (2021). Purpose in life, loneliness, and protective health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gerontologist, 61(6), 878-887. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab081
  • Karaman, M. A., Lerma, E., Vela, J. C., & Watson, J. C. (2019). Predictors of academic stress among college students. Journal of College Counseling, 22(1), 41-55. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12113
  • Klackl, J., & Jonas, E. (2019). Effects of mortality salience on physiological arousal. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1893. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01893
  • Kousoulis, A. A., Søvold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., & Münter, L. (1AD, January 1). Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: An urgent global public health priority. Frontiers in Public Health, 9 (679397), 1-12.
  • Krampe, H., Danbolt, L.J., Haver, A., Stålsett, G., & Schnell, T. (2021). Locus of control moderates the association of COVID-19 stress and general mental distress: results of a Norwegian and a German-speaking cross-sectional survey. BMC Psychiatry, 21, 437. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s12888-021-03418-5
  • Krause, N., & Stryker, S. (1984). Stress and well-being: The buffering role of locus of control beliefs. Social Science and Medicine, 18(9), 783-790. https://doi.org/10. 1016/0277-9536(84)90105-9
  • Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1(3), 141-169. https://doi.org/10.1002/per. 2410010304
  • Li, Z., & Hasson, F. (2020). Resilience, stress, and psychological well-being in nursingstudents: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 90, 104440. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104440
  • Lopes, A., & Nihei, O. (2021). Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predictors and association with life satisfaction, psychological well-being and coping strategies. PLOS One, 16(10),
  • e0258493. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258493
  • Luthans, F., Avolio, B., Avey, J., & Norman, S. (2007, September). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 541-572. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x
  • Maroco, J., Campos, J., Bonafé, F., Vinagre, M., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. (2014). Transcultural adaptation brazil-portugal of the brief cope scale for college students. Psicologia, Saúde and Doenças, 15(2), 300-313. doi: 10.15309/14psd150201
  • Mazza, M. G., De Lorenzo, R., Conte, C., Poletti, S., Vai, B., Bollettini, I., Melloni, E. M. T., Furlan, R., Ciceri, F., Rovere-Querini, P., COVID-19 BioB Outpatient Clinic Study group, & Benedetti, F. (2020, October). Anxiety and depression in COVID-19 survivors: Role of inflammatory and clinical predictors. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 89(2020), 594-600.
  • McClure, J., Walkey, F., & Allen, M. (1999). When earthquake damage is seen as preventable: Attributions, locus of control and attitudes to risk. Applied Psychology, 48(2), 239-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1999.tb00060.x
  • McGinty, E., Presskreischer, R., Han, H., & Barry, C. (2020). Psychological distress and loneliness reported by US adults in 2018 and April 2020. JAMA, 324(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.9740
  • Menzies, R. E., & Menzies, R. G. (2020, June 11). Death anxiety in the time of COVID- 19: Theoretical explanations and clinical implications: The cognitive behaviour therapist. Cambridge Core.
  • Misamer, M., Signerski-Krieger, J., Bartels, C., & Belz, M. (2021). Internal locus of control and sense of coherence decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of students and professionals in social work. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.705809
  • O'Sullivan, K., McGrane, A., Clark, S., & Marshall, K. (2020). Exploring the impact of home-schooling on the psychological well-being of Irish families during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: A qualitative study protocol. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 160940692098095. https://doi.org/10.1177/160 9406920980954
  • Padmanabhan, S. (2021). The impact of locus of control on workplace stress and job satisfaction: A pilot study on private-sector employees. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 2, 100026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2021.100026 Lopes, A., & Nihei, O. (2021). Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predictors and association with life satisfaction, psychological well-being and coping strategies. PLOS One, 16(10), e0258493. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258493 Mazza, M. G., De Lorenzo, R., Conte, C., Poletti, S., Vai, B., Bollettini, I., Melloni, E. M. T., Furlan, R., Ciceri, F., Rovere-Querini, P., COVID-19 BioB Outpatient Clinic Study group, & Benedetti, F. (2020, October). Anxiety and depression in COVID-19 survivors: Role of inflammatory and clinical predictors. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 89(2020), 594-600.
  • Rajabimajd, N., Alimoradi, Z., & Griffiths, M. (2021). Impact of COVID-19-related fear and anxiety on job attributes: A systematic review. Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior, 4(2), 51. doi: 10.4103/shb.shb_24_21
  • Ransing, R., Ramalho, R., Orsolini, L., Adiukwu, F., Gonzalez-Diaz, J., & Larnaout, A. et al. (2020). Can COVID-19 related mental health issues be measured? Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 88, 32-34. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.049
  • Robinson, S., Hawryluck, L., Gold, W. L., Pogorski, S., Galea, S., & Styra, R. (2004, July). SARS control and psychological effects of quarantine, Toronto, Canada. Emerging infectious diseases.
  • Rodríguez-Rey, R., Garrido-Hernansaiz, H., & Collado, S. (1AD, January 1). Psychological impact and associated factors during the initial stage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among the general population in Spain. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1540.
  • Rotter, J. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80(1), 609.
  • Ruiz-Frutos, C., Ortega-Moreno, M., Allande-Cussó, R., Ayuso-Murillo, D., Domínguez-Salas, S., & Gómez-Salgado, J. (2021). Sense of coherence, engagement, and work environment as precursors of psychological distress among non-health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Safety Science, 133, 105033. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105033
  • Ryff, C. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069- 1081.
  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (2003). Flourishing under fire: Resilience as a prototype of challenged thriving. In C. L. M. Keyes (Ed.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (Vol. 335, pp. 15-36). American Psychological Association.
  • Schnell, T., & Krampe, H. (2020). Meaning in life and self-control buffer stress in times of COVID-19: Moderating and mediating effects with regard to mental distress. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.582352
  • Serrano, F., & Kazda, A. (2020). The future of airports post COVID-19. Journal of Air Transport Management, 89, 101900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.202 0.101900
  • Sigurvinsdottir, R., Thorisdottir, I., & Gylfason, H. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on mental health: The role of locus on control and internet use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 69-85. doi: 10.3390/ijerph171 96985
  • Silva, W., Brito, T., & Pereira, C. (2021). Anxiety associated with COVID-19 and concerns about death: Impacts on psychological well-being. Personality And Individual Differences, 176, 110772. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110772
  • Søvold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Kousoulis, A. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., & Münter, L. (1AD, January 1). Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: An Urgent Global Public Health Priority. Frontiers Public Health, 9, 679397.
  • UNICEF (2022). Knowledge, risk perceptions, preventive behaviours, and public trust in current COVID-19 outbreak. Unicef.org. Retrieved 15 February 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/georgia/reports/knowledge-risk-perceptions-preventivebehaviours- and-public-trust-current-covid-19-outbreak.
  • Van Bavel, J. J., Baicker, K., Boggio, P. S., Capraro, V., Cichocka, A., Cikara, M., Crockett, M. J., Crum, A. J., Douglas, K. M., Druckman, J. N., Drury, J., Dube, O., Ellemers, N., Finkel, E. J., Fowler, J. H., Gelfand, M., Han, S., Haslam, S. A., Jetten, J., Kitayama, S., Mobbs, D., Napper, L. E., & Willer, R. (2020). Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response. Nature Human Behaviour, 4, 447-460.
  • Wallston, K. (2015). Control beliefs: Health perspectives. International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences (Second Edition, pp. 819-821). https://doi.org/ 10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.14070-x
  • Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., McIntyre, R. S., Choo, F.N., Tran, B., Ho, R., Sharma, V.K., & Ho, C. (2020a). A longitudinal study on the mental health of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Brain Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 40-48. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.028
  • Wong, A. K. F., Kim, S., Kim, J., & Han, H. (2021). How the COVID-19 pandemic affected hotel employee stress: Employee perceptions of occupational stressors and their consequences. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 93, 102798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102798
  • Ye, Z., Yang, X., Zeng, C., Wang, Y., Shen, Z., Li, X., & Lin, D. (2020). Resilience, social support, and coping as mediators between COVID-19-related stressful experiences and acute stress disorder among college students in China. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 12(4), 1074-1094. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12211
  • Yoon, M. K., Kim, S. Y., Ko, H. S., & Lee, M. S. (2016). System effectiveness of detection, brief intervention and refer to treatment for the people with post-traumatic emotional distress by MERS: A case report of community-based proactive intervention in South Korea. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 10, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-016-0083-5
  • Zhang, Y., & Ma, Z. F. (2020, March 31). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life among local residents in liaoning province, China: A crosssectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(7), 2381 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PM C7177660/

Abstract Views: 113

PDF Views: 0




  • Relationship between COVID-19 Anxiety, Locus of Control and Psychological Well-being

Abstract Views: 113  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Abhipsha Banerjee
M.Phil. Clinical Psychology Trainee, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Heena Sheth
M.Phil. Clinical Psychology Trainee, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Abhishek Agarwal
M.Phil. Clinical Psychology Trainee, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Aparajita Chakraborty
Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Behavioral Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata West Bengal, India

Abstract


In present times, the impact of COVID-19 is not simply biological and social but is also characterized by socioemotional suggestions from various individual and environmental sources as well as experiences. The pandemic has created a general demand for a change of allocation of control in the internal and external factors by ways of affecting the individual's perception, information processing, daily life functioning and attitude towards the personal agency, consequences as well as personal well-being in general. In the context of a surge of mental health challenges due to the pandemic, it is crucial to study how control allocation is associated with the relationship between COVID-19 and well-being. The study aims to explore the relationship among locus of control, COVID-19 anxiety, and psychological well-being along with finding the mean differences in COVID-19 anxiety as well as psychological well-being between the two groups of locus of control. The study is conducted on a young adult sample (N=100) and the relationship among the variables is explored using relevant statistical analysis. The discussion explores the impact of COVID-19 anxiety and locus of control on various domains of psychological well-being. The implication of this study extends that, internal locus of control may be associated with positive psychological well-being and relatively better perceived coping of COVID-19 anxiety.

Keywords


COVID-19 anxiety, locus of control, psychological well-being

References