Coping moderates the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and stress in men during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emanuel Missias Silva Palma,Pâmela Pitágoras Freitas Lima,Ramon Evangelista Luz,Álvaro Lima Freitas Neto,Franciane Andrade De Morais,Anderson Reis De Sousa

doi:10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2021-0303

Abstract

To test the explanatory power of coping strategies and intolerance of uncertainty on men's perceived stress levels and test the moderating role of coping strategies in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was an online cross-sectional study in which 1,006 men living in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic participated. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique and completed a questionnaire containing measures of all study variables. Data were examined using a correlation and a regression analysis. Intolerance of uncertainty (β = .51) and refusal (β = .15) positively predicted perceived stress, whereas control (β = -.31) and isolation (β = -.06) negatively predicted it. Together, these variables explained 52% of men's perceived stress (p < .001). Isolation and social support lessened the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and stress (p < .001). Men high in intolerance of uncertainty and refusal were more vulnerable to stress during the pandemic. However, coping helped mitigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress, thus being a promising psychosocial intervention in this context.

Highlights

Higher rates of mental health disorders have been reported worldwide during the months following the Covid-19 pandemic[1], posing challenges to health professionals of different fields, such as psychology and nursing
This study focuses on two of these variables, namely intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and coping
The main findings of this study support the empirical literature on the buffering effects coping strategies have on the relationship between individual variables and adverse mental health outcomes

Summary

Introduction

Higher rates of mental health disorders have been reported worldwide during the months following the Covid-19 pandemic[1], posing challenges to health professionals of different fields, such as psychology and nursing. In this context, individuals were more likely to report greater levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and somatic disorders[2]. A surge of interest in mental health indicators, such as stress and coping, has been observed in the literature. Perceived stress (PS) has consistently been linked to adverse mental and physical health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, burnout syndrome, insomnia, and fatigue[10]. This study focuses on two of these variables, namely intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and coping

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion