Psychological Distress and Physical Health Symptoms in the Latinx Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Anxiety Sensitivity

Abstract

Objective The outbreak of the novel 2019 SARS2-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to substantial physical and mental health consequences. Rates of mortality and hospitalization are highest among those of racial and ethnic minority persons, including Latinx persons. Further, Latinx persons have been experiencing elevated mental health problems in response to the pandemic compared to non-Latinx Whites. The current study examined whether individual differences in anxiety sensitivity (AS) related to more severe emotional distress associated with social distancing, financial strain, fear of COVID-19, and physical health symptoms stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic among Latinx adults. Methods Participants included 188 Latinx persons (31.4% female, M age = 34.1 years, SD = 8.16) recruited via an online survey panel program. Results Results indicated that AS significantly contributed to increased severity of the emotional stress response associated with social distancing ( ΔR 2 = 0.15, p < 0.001), financial strain ( ΔR 2 = 0.15, p < 0.001), physical health symptoms ( ΔR 2 = 0.03, p = 0.006), and fear of COVID-19 ( ΔR 2 = 0.15, p < 0.001). These effects were evident over and above the variance accounted for by gender, years living in the United States, education, and work and home life COVID-19-related stress. Conclusions These cross-sectional findings suggest AS may be an important individual difference factor for better understanding mental health among Latinx persons in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk Factors Associated With Increased Anxiety Sensitivity in Children and Adolescents in Northwest China During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

“…Indeed, research from the COVID-19 pandemic shows that anxiety sensitivity is increased in adults and is positively associated with suicidal ideation (Allan et al, 2021), depression, and anxiety (Avidor et al, 2021). Taken together, these studies demonstrate that anxiety sensitivity could be a significant predictor of COVID-19-related fear and consequent safety behaviors (Mayorga et al, 2022). Thus, the primary aim of the present study was to assess the anxiety sensitivity of children and adolescents in northwest China early in the pandemic.…”

COVID-19 and Latinx alcohol use: The role of health insurance.

“…Regarding physical health related to living with COVID-19 stressors, people who experienced job layoffs, financial strain, and difficulties transitioning to the lockdown period experienced poorer sleep health (Yuksel et al, 2021). Among Latinx people, those with higher anxiety sensitivity reported higher COVID-related stress and poorer general physical health (Mayorga et al, 2022). Physical activity is commonly considered an important way to maintain and promote good health.…”

Interoceptive anxiety-related processes: Importance for understanding COVID-19 and future pandemic mental health and addictive behaviors and their comorbidity

“…The findings were consistent for both samples wherein global anxiety sensitivity was related to the studied criterion variables and these effects were evident beyond the variance explained by age, sex, pre-existing medical conditions, and COVID-19 exposure (see Table 1 in the supplementary materials for lower-order relations with criterion variables). Among Latinx adults in the U.S., Mayorga, Garey, et al (2021) examined anxiety sensitivity during the pandemic among 188 adults. Here, in a cross-sectional examination, anxiety sensitivity was significantly related to the emotional impact of COVID-19 social distancing and economic adversity as well as physical heath symptom severity and fear of COVID-19; the effects were evident after adjusting for other theoretically and empirically relevant factors of gender, years living in the U.S., education, and work and home life COVID-19-related stressors.…”

“…Further, targeting and changing (improving) these constructs is related to better chronic illness outcomes in controlled research ( Leeuw et al, 2007 ). Some initial COVID-19 specific research has found evidence that certain interoceptive anxiety-related constructs, such as anxiety sensitivity, increase the risk for more severe physical health symptoms ( Mayorga, Garey, et al, 2021 ). However, more research is needed on the role of these transdiagnostic factors for better understanding pandemic related somatic symptoms, chronic illness, and course of COVID-19 infection, particularly among persons with mental health and addictive behavior problems.…”

“…In terms of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in internet mental health symptom searches ( Jacobson et al, 2020 ), greater mental health treatment demand ( Titov et al, 2020 ), and higher rates of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and related negative emotional states (e.g., loneliness; Killgore, Cloonan, Taylor, & Dailey, 2020 ; Reger, Stanley, & Joiner, 2020 ; Xiang et al, 2020 ). These mental health effects have also been more robust for certain subpopulations, including racial/ethnic minorities ( Mayorga, Garey, et al, 2021 ). Although studies of children lag behind ( Racine, Korczak, & Madigan, 2020 ), one study found that as many as two-thirds of youth have been significantly impacted the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by lower quality of life, higher anxiety, and more mental health problems generally than before the pandemic ( Ravens-Sieberer et al, 2021 , pp.…”