Metacognitive model of coping behavior of a subject during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Mental experience is a necessary construct of self-regulation of behavior in a stressful situation. During the pandemics of a new coronavirus infection, metacognitive approach towards analysis of adaptation mechanism of regulation of behavior allows determining the resource potential of personality for the purpose of achieving social re-adaptation. Adequacy of cognitive assessment of a potential COVID-19 threat as a stressogenic factor characterizes the metacognitive model of coping behavior of a subject. Mental representations as coping resources of the system of self-regulation of personality define the nature of mental activity for overcoming a difficult life situation. In the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic increases the risk of mental disturbance due to cognitive dissonance in assessing the situation of potential threat as stressogenic factor. A destructive model of metacognitive activity as a method of regulation of stress resistance leads to maladaptive behavior of a subject based on cognitive distortions. As a factor of social disintegration, cognitive deteriorations negatively affect the subjective level of stress resilience, increasing the risk of chronification psychoemotional tension. The pilot research on the basis of Google platform involved 48 students. The assessment of acquired results is conducted with the use of correlation-regression analysis. It is determined that the adequate cognitive assessment of potential risk of coronavirus infection explains the internal constructive ensemble of the strategies of coping behavior with stressogenic situation of behavior. Therefore, the effective strategies of metacognitive regulation of behavior of a subject pertaining to COVID-19 contribute to social re-adaptation, associated with the need for inner transformation. Metacognitive model of dysfunctional fear regarding the threat of COVID-19 characterizes the external vector of destructive repertoire of coping strategies for regulation of behavior of a subject, and reflects negatively on the personal level.  Therefore, semantic field of metacognitive model of social re-adaptation by means of subjective control of behavior substantiates individual differences in the level of personal anxiety as a factor of stress resilience.