Pandemic Coping Strategies: Poll Outlines Concerning Patterns among Population
Revised Article:
While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the global population, it's also impacting folks' emotional well-being in profound ways. A peek into the U.S. psyche, courtesy of a Michigan University survey conducted in late March 2020, reveals that fear, anxiety, and depression are rampant, with many resorting to less-than-ideal coping mechanisms.
The Parenting in Context Research Lab at Michigan University published their findings online, having surveyed 562 participants aged 18 or older. The group included a good mix of ethnicities, with 74% identifying as white, 9% as Hispanic, 8% as black, and 5% as Asian. The majority (74%) of respondents had a romantic partner, with an average age of 35 and average household income ranging from $50,000 to $70,000. Notably, 52% had at least a bachelor's degree.
Over a quarter (25%) of respondents knew someone who had tested positive for the virus, and 11% knew someone who had been tested. Although concern about the pandemic was widespread, with 76% believing it to be justified, nearly everyone (98%) was physically distancing, and 82% were under lockdown.
Looking at the emotional hit the pandemic had taken, the survey results showed that as many as half (54%) of participants felt their lives had been significantly disrupted by COVID-19. When asked to pick three words that best described their feelings towards the outbreak, "anxious," "nervous," "scared," "stressed," and "uncertain" cropped up most frequently.
Delving deeper, economic concerns overshadowed health worries, with 47% fretful about paying bills and 53% fearful of running out of money altogether.
To deal with the emotional toll, participants mostly turned to positive coping strategies, with 89% taking proactive steps to improve their situation. Seeking comfort from others (77%) and staying productive (84%) were popular options, while 48% found solace in prayer or meditation.
Negative coping methods were less prevalent but not entirely absent, with 68% resorting to humor to bare the load and 47% criticizing their own responses to the crisis. Some also turned to substances like alcohol (22%) and marijuana (14%) to help cope – a separate category of survey questions focused on substance use trends.
Interestingly, romantic partners emerged as a crucial source of support for many during this difficult time, with 71% reporting increased emotional closeness and 58% experiencing more physical closeness. However, not all relationships weathered the storm, with 19% reporting more disagreements than usual.
As the pandemic intensifies and disrupts daily life further, mental health professionals should brace themselves for a surge in mental health and substance use problems, advise the study authors.
[1] Survey data on mental health impacts of COVID-19 restrictions – ICPSR[2] Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health – Study reveals significant declines in mental health amid pandemic[3] University of Michigan study – Primary care doctor burnout escalates during pandemic, but not due to fear of infection[4] University of Michigan survey data (unavailable at the time of writing) – Emotional impact of COVID-19 pandemic and coping strategies among Americans[5] University of Michigan survey data (unavailable at the time of writing) – Substance use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic among Americans.
- The survey results showed that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in mental health issues, with "anxious," "nervous," "scared," "stressed," and "uncertain" being the most common feelings described towards the outbreak.
- Economic concerns were found to overshadow health worries, with 47% of participants expressing worry about paying bills and 53% fearing running out of money altogether.
- While negative coping methods were less prevalent, some participants turned to substances like alcohol (22%) and marijuana (14%) to help cope with the emotional toll of the pandemic.
