General Worry Research Articles

Facing Familiar Strangers and Potential Friends: Rumours of Betrayal, Ambiguous Friendships and the Dangers of Poison in Urban Madagascar

In this article, I explore the different ways in which educated young people in urban Mahajanga experience and anticipate social relationships. Taking rumours of betrayal as my starting point, I shed light on the ambivalent nature of friendship and commensality. While both phenomena echo Malagasy values encompassing solidarity and sharing, they also contain the threat of switching into dangerous territory: when trust becomes mistrust, a close friend can well become an enemy and a commensal situation might ultimately be poisoned. This article focuses on a relatively affluent group of young people and examines how narratives of betrayal both reflect and contribute to general frustrations and worries about personal failure. Individual life courses revolve essentially around a social project of anticipation which includes not only hope and aspiration but also fear of potential failure and of arousing envy among others. I argue that these generalised anxieties do not stifle social interaction; instead they foster an attitude of suspicion that serves as a useful tool of temporary detachment, giving space to gather knowledge about someone or something before determining the appropriate response.

General Attitudes Towards Robots Scale (GAToRS): A New Instrument for Social Surveys

AbstractPsychometric scales are useful tools in understanding people’s attitudes towards different aspects of life. As societies develop and new technologies arise, new validated scales are needed. Robots and artificial intelligences of various kinds are about to occupy just about every niche in human society. Several tools to measure fears and anxieties about robots do exist, but there is a definite lack of tools to measure hopes and expectations for these new technologies. Here, we create and validate a novel multi-dimensional scale which measures people’s attitudes towards robots, giving equal weight to positive and negative attitudes. Our scale differentiates (a) comfort and enjoyment around robots, (b) unease and anxiety around robots, (c) rational hopes about robots in general (at societal level) and (d) rational worries about robots in general (at societal level). The scale was developed by extracting items from previous scales, crowdsourcing new items, testing through 3 scale iterations by exploratory factor analysis (Ns 135, 801 and 609) and validated in its final form of the scale by confirmatory factor analysis (N: 477). We hope our scale will be a useful instrument for social scientists who wish to study human-technology relations with a validated scale in efficient and generalizable ways.

The Mental Health Impact of Daily News Exposure During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

BackgroundConsumption of distressing news media, which substantially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, has demonstrable negative effects on mental health.ObjectiveThis study examines the proximal impact of daily exposure to news about COVID-19 on mental health in the first year of the pandemic.MethodsA sample of 546 college students completed daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) for 8 weeks, measuring exposure to news about COVID-19, worry and optimism specifically related to COVID-19, hopelessness, and general worry.ResultsParticipants completed >80,000 surveys. Multilevel mediation models indicated that greater daily exposure to news about COVID-19 is associated with higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic. Elevations in worry specifically about COVID-19 were in turn associated with greater next-day hopelessness and general worry. Optimism about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between daily exposure to COVID-19 news and next-day general worry but was not related to hopelessness.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the mental health impact of daily exposure to COVID-19 news and highlights how worry about the pandemic contributes over time to hopelessness and general worry.

Professzionális táncosok mentális jóllétének és megküzdési módjainak vizsgálata a Covid-19 okozta karantén idején

The paper aims to present how professional dancers (n=163) could cope with the challenges of the lockdown period and how they could be best supported. The study measured mental well-being, resilience, coping strategies of dancers, and specific responses to the lockdown situation. The most influential factor in dancers’ mental well-being is their resilience; yet, they can also rely on their skills of coping with adversity, which, ideally, should improve during professional dancing. Of the situation-specific variables, worries and anxiety related to Covid-19, the level of boredom and the use of self-help techniques have proven to be exceptionally important. The conclusion of the research was that besides general worries related to Covid-19, the dancers are also characterized by specific worries (bodyweight control, decline in movement skills, difficulties in returning to work). It would be beneficial to put special focus on effective intervention methods for dancers, teach them adequate self-help and coping techniques, and increase their resilience. Although the lockdown period was a special and rare occurrence, similar situations, e.g. injuries, changing company, trips, having children, can frequently arise in dancers’ lives.

Good Uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccine among Patients with Rheumatic Diseases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Background: Many patients with rheumatic diseases are immunosuppressed and take forms of immunomodulator medication. Hence, these patients might be at a heightened risk of Covid-19 and have special concerns in regard to vaccines, such as safety and efficacy. Vaccines have been available for the population of UAE as of January 2021, these being Pfizer (the United States and Europe), Sinopharm (China), and AstraZeneca (United Kingdom). The aim of our paper was to examine the rate of vaccine uptake among our patients with rheumatic conditions in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed among patients with rheumatic diseases attending a rheumatology specialised clinic in the United Arab Emirates. We collected data on 149 consecutive patients who were seen during a one-month period from 10/06/2021 to 10/07/2021 in Dubai. Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.9 +/- 41.3. The majority of the patients had underlying rheumatic diseases (86.9%), the rest having conditions such as soft tissue pain or to rule out rheumatic conditions. 48.5% were taking immunomodulators. 41.7% of respondents had other chronic diseases. It was also found that 18.9% had Covid-19 previously, all of whom recovered, with the average duration of the illness being 11 days. 99.1% of individuals reported that receiving the Covid-19 vaccine was extremely important, and 95.0% had already received the vaccination. Their reasoning for receiving the vaccination varied from medical advice (17.5%), general worry about infection/ reinfection of Covid-19 (65.3%), in order to travel (8.4%), employee requirement (5.6%), and other reasons (3.2%). Specifically, 48.3% chose the Pfizer vaccine, 39.8% had Sinopharm, and 11.9% had AstraZeneca. These decisions on which vaccine to choose were influenced by the availability of the vaccine (35.1%), medical advice (16.9%), effectiveness (15.5%), safety and side effect profile (18.2%), age restrictions (2.7%), experience/ advice from friends and family (8.1%) and other reasons (3.4%). Conclusion: Overall, an overwhelming majority of our patients (95.0%) with rheumatic diseases in the specialised muscular-skeletal clinic in the UAE have received the Covid-19 vaccine. This reflects good public health service messaging and concentrated efforts from the medical community, UAE government, and the patient’s rheumatologists.

A Comparison of Mental-Health Outcomes in the United States and Italy at Different Levels of Cumulative COVID-19 Prevalence

How does the prevalence of COVID-19 affect people’s mental health? In a preregistered study ( N = 857), we sought to answer this question by comparing demographically matched samples in four regions in the United States and Italy with different levels of cumulative COVID-19 prevalence. No main effect of prevalence emerged. Rather, prevalence region had opposite effects, depending on the country. New York City participants (high prevalence) reported more general distress, posttraumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than San Francisco (low prevalence). Conversely, Campania participants (low prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than Lombardy (high prevalence). Consistent with these patterns, we found that COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with general distress and PTSD symptoms in New York City than San Francisco, whereas COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with PTSD in Campania than Lombardy. In exploratory analyses, media exposure predicted and mapped on to geographic variation in mental-health outcomes.

College Student-athletes' COVID-19 Worry and Psychological Distress Differed by Gender, Race, and Exposure to COVID-19–related Events

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19–related events (e.g., canceled season, diagnosed with COVID) and their psychological distress in April/May 2020. MethodsThe link to the online survey was emailed to NCAA student-athletes by the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Council and the athletic departments of 80 NCAA institutions. In April–May of 2020, student-athletes (N = 5915; women = 3924) completed the online survey once. The survey included measures of their psychological distress, COVID-19 worry, and their exposure to different COVID-19–related events. To examine differences in exposure to COVID-related events by racial, ethnicity, and gender identities, we conducted logistic regressions. A path analysis examined relationships between COVID-related events, COVID-19 worry, and psychological distress for men and women. ResultsStudent-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19 events differed significantly by gender, race, and ethnicity. In addition, 58.7% of women's and 54.5% of men's psychological distress variance was explained by the path model and mostly by their COVID-related worry. Student-athletes’ stress was directly related to the changes that occurred in class delivery (i.e., online format) and indirectly by being quarantined. Men's psychological distress was also related through worry by their sport season being canceled. DiscussionThe general uncertainty and worry about COVID individuals experienced at the beginning of this pandemic primarily explained the athletes' high levels of psychological distress. As COVID-19 continues to cause quarantines and changes educational experiences, the worry and psychological distress of college students are likely to continue.

SlowMo therapy, a new digital blended therapy for fear of harm from others: An account of therapy personalisation within a targeted intervention

ObjectivesSlowMo therapy is a pioneering blended digital therapy for paranoia, augmenting face‐to‐face therapy with an interactive ‘webapp’ and a mobile app. A recent large‐scale trial demonstrated small–moderate effects on paranoia alongside improvements in self‐esteem, worry, well‐being and quality of life. This paper provides a comprehensive account of therapy personalisation within this targeted approach.DesignCase examples illustrate therapy delivery and descriptive data are presented on personalised thought content.MethodThought content was extracted from the webapp (n = 140 participants) and coded using newly devised categories: Worries: (1) Persecutory, (2) Negative social evaluation, (3) Negative self‐concept, (4) Loss/life stresses, (5) Sensory‐perceptual experiences and (6) Health anxieties. Safer thoughts: (1) Safer alternative (specific alternatives to worries), (2) Second‐wave (generalised) coping, (3) Positive self‐concept, (4) Positive activities and (5) Third‐wave (mindfulness‐based) coping. Data on therapy fidelity are also presented.ResultsWorries: ‘Persecutory’ (92.9% of people) and ‘Negative social evaluation’ (74.3%) were most common. ‘General worries/ life stresses’ (31.4%) and ‘Negative self‐concept’ (22.1%) were present in a significant minority; ‘Health anxieties’ (10%) and ‘Sensory‐perceptual’ (10%) were less common. Safer thoughts: ‘Second‐wave (general) coping’ (85%), ‘Safer alternatives’ (76.4%), ‘Positive self‐concept’ (65.7%) and ‘Positive activities’ (64.3%) were common with ‘Third‐wave’ (mindfulness) coping observed for 30%. Fidelity: Only three therapy withdrawals were therapy related. Session adherence was excellent (mean = 15.2/16; SD = 0.9). Behavioural work was conducted with 71% of people (119/168).ConclusionSlowMo therapy delivers a targeted yet personalised approach. Potential mechanisms of action extend beyond reasoning. Implications for cognitive models of paranoia and causal interventionist approaches are discussed.

Facebook in Bangladesh: Security and Privacy Concerns

Facebook has become a part of most user's life. Information sharing on Facebook is enjoyable, but it comes with a price in terms of security and privacy. This popular social network has experienced a cascade of security flaws and privacy controversies that have occurred nonstop since 2018. This study aims to collect information on the general awareness of how Facebook users use the site and how they manage their privacy and security preferences to safeguard their data and to consolidate information on users' general understanding and worries about their privacy and security on Facebook in Bangladesh perspective. This paper is supported with unique primary data from a survey. There are some varying survey findings. In 68.00% of instances, users have finished customizing their Facebook profiles' pri-vacy settings, which is a significant finding. The most important result is that security and privacy are vital to users, as seen by 68.45% of users who choose not to make their posts public. Another crucial finding is that after establishing their Facebook accounts, 41.03% of users never altered their passwords, even 27% were totally unaware of the system, and 52.60% did not set up 'Get alerts about unrecognized logins'.

Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of the network approach to psychopathology: Analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohort over a 12-year timespan

Cohort studies have displayed mixed findings on changes in mental symptoms severity in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak started. Network approaches can provide additional insights by analyzing the connectivity of such symptoms. We assessed the network structure of mental symptoms in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Health (ELSA-Brasil) in 3 waves: 2008–2010, 2017–2019, and 2020, and hypothesized that the 2020 network would present connectivity changes. We used the Clinical Interview Scheduled-Revised (CIS-R) questionnaire to evaluates the severity of 14 common mental symptoms. Networks were graphed using unregularized Gaussian models and compared using centrality and connectivity measures. The predictive power of centrality measures and individual symptoms were also estimated. Among 2011 participants (mean age: 62.1 years, 58% females), the pandemic symptom 2020 network displayed higher overall connectivity, especially among symptoms that were related to general worries, with increased local connectivity between general worries and worries about health, as well as between anxiety and phobia symptoms. There was no difference between 2008 and 2010 and 2017–2019 networks. According to the network theory of mental disorders, external factors could explain why the network structure became more densely connected in 2020 compared to previous observations. We speculate that the COVID-19 pandemic and its innumerous social, economical, and political consequences were prominent external factors driving such changes; although further assessments are warranted.

How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa

BackgroundInherent to anorexia nervosa are repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. The relation between these cognitive processes and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study investigated associations between prospective (desire for predictability) and inhibitory (uncertainty paralysis) intolerance of uncertainty, and weight and shape concerns and the mediating role of worry in these associations.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed questionnaires measuring the variables of interest. A mediation model with worry as a mediator between inhibitory and prospective intolerance of uncertainty and weight and shape concerns was tested.ResultsA total and direct effect of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty on weight and shape concerns was found. Worry did not mediate this relation.ConclusionsThese results confirm the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa.Plain English summaryAdolescent girls with anorexia nervosa often experience repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. Intolerance of uncertainty is defined as the incapacity to tolerate uncertainty and is often divided into two components; prospective intolerance of uncertainty (desire for predictability) and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty (uncertainty paralysis). The relation between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study aims to investigate study relations between prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty, worry, and weight and shape concerns. A total of 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed three questionnaires, measuring prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty worry, and weight and shape concerns, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls.

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Study the Development of COVID-19 Worries in Sweden: Longitudinal Study.

BackgroundThe foray of COVID-19 around the globe has certainly instigated worries in many people, and lockdown measures may well have triggered more specific worries. Sweden, more than other countries, relied on voluntary measures to fight the pandemic. This provides a particularly interesting context to assess people’s reactions to the threat of the pandemic.ObjectiveThe general aim of this study was to better understand the worried reactions to the virus and the associated lockdown measures. As there have been very few longitudinal studies in this area published to date, development of feelings of worry over time was analyzed over a longer range than in previous research. Affective variables, worry in particular, were included because most of the research in this field has focused on cognitive variables. To employ new methodology, ecological momentary assessment was used for data collection and a multilevel modeling approach was adopted for data analysis.MethodsResults were based on an unbalanced panel sample of 260 Swedish participants filling in 3226 interview questionnaires by smartphone over a 7-week period in 2020 during the rapid rise of cases in the early phase of the pandemic. Causal factors considered in this study included the perceived severity of an infection, susceptibility of a person to the threat posed by the virus, perceived efficacy of safeguarding measures, and assessment of government action against the spread of COVID-19. The effect of these factors on worries was traced in two analytical steps: the effects at the beginning of the study and the effect on the trend during the study.ResultsThe level of general worry related to COVID-19 was modest (mean 6.67, SD 2.54 on an 11-point Likert scale); the increase during the study period was small, but the interindividual variation of both the worry level and its increase over time was large. Findings confirmed that the hypothesized causal factors (severity of infection, susceptibility to the threat of the virus, efficacy of safeguarding, and assessment of government preventive action) did indeed affect the level of worry.ConclusionsThe results confirmed earlier research in a very special case and demonstrated the usefulness of a different study design, which takes a longitudinal perspective, and a new type of data analysis borrowed from multilevel study design.

Linear and nonlinear associations between the sleep environment, presleep conditions, and sleep in adolescence: moderation by race and socioeconomic status

Objective/backgroundThe role of the sleep environment and presleep conditions that may influence adolescents' sleep are understudied. The aims of the current study were to examine linear and nonlinear associations between the sleep environment and presleep conditions and adolescents’ daytime sleepiness and sleep/wake problems. MethodParticipants included 313 adolescents (Mage = 17.39 years, SD = 10.38 months; 51.4% girls, 48.6% boys; 59.1% White/European American, 40.3% Black/African American) from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds living in the southeastern United States. Adolescents completed surveys assessing the sleep environment (eg, light, bedding), four presleep conditions (ie, general worries, family concerns, arousal, somatic complaints), and sleep (daytime sleepiness, sleep/wake problems). ResultsSleep environment disruptions and worse presleep conditions were positively associated with sleepiness and sleep/wake problems in a linear fashion. Nonlinear associations emerged such that levels of sleepiness increased rapidly between low and average levels of the sleep environment and two presleep conditions (worries, arousal); the slope leveled off between average and high levels. Moreover, linear effects of environmental disruptions, family concerns, somatic complaints, and presleep arousal on sleep/wake problems were moderated by race and/or SES, indicating that positive associations between some presleep conditions and sleep/wake problems were more pronounced for Black and lower SES youth. ConclusionsResults support the importance of the sleep environment and multiple presleep conditions and assessments of both linear and nonlinear effects for a better understanding of factors that may contribute to sleep. Additionally, results indicate the sleep environment and some presleep conditions may be more consequential for disadvantaged youth.

Beliefs About Worry and Pain Amongst Adolescents With and Without Chronic Pain.

To explore beliefs about worries, beliefs about pain, and worries about pain held by adolescents with and without chronic pain. Adolescents with and without chronic pain aged 14-19 completed an online survey with free text questions about pain and worry. We collected demographics and used the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children to contextualize the qualitative data, which was analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis. Eighty-one participants completed the survey, 36 with chronic pain and 45 without (mean age: 16.73). Compared to adolescents without chronic pain, adolescents living with chronic pain reported significantly higher general worry and pain catastrophizing. Thematic analysis generated two themes, "Worry changes perceptions of selfhood" and "Pain changes perceptions of selfhood." Each theme comprised two sub-themes showing how current and future identity trajectories were distorted by worry and pain. The theme "Pain changes perceptions of selfhood" also included a third sub-theme: "Pain impedes future working choices." Worry content as well as process was problematic in all adolescents. Adolescents experiencing chronic pain had specific, additional worries that pain reduces future career progression. These worries appeared highly salient and challenging. Adolescents may need greater support in recognizing worry as part of normative development. Adolescents in pain may benefit from specific support identifying and reducing how pain-related worries interact with their futures and careers, and from school-based and vocational interventions to reduce the realistic risks they face negotiating modern labor markets.

Worry and rumination predict insomnia in patients with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study with long-term follow-up.

Insomnia is highly prevalent and associated with anxiety and depression in patients with coronary heart disease patients. The development of effective psychological interventions is needed. Worry and rumination are potential risk factors for the maintenance of insomnia, anxiety, and depression that may be modified by psychological treatment grounded in the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model. However, the relationships between worry, rumination, anxiety and depression, and insomnia are not known. Therefore, we investigated these relationships both cross-sectionally and longitudinally among patients with coronary heart disease. A cross-sectional study consecutively included 1,082 patients in 2014-2015, and 686 were followed up after mean of 4.7 years. Data were gathered from hospital records and self-report questionnaires comprising assessment of worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), rumination (Ruminative Responses Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale). Insomnia correlated moderately with all other psychological variables (R 0.18-0.50, all P values < .001). After adjustments for anxiety and depression, odds ratios for insomnia at baseline were 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.50) and 1.60 (95% confidence interval 1.31-1.94) per 10 points increase of worry and rumination, respectively. Corresponding odds ratios for insomnia at follow-up were 1.28 (95% confidence interval 1.05-1.55) and 1.38 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.75). Depression was no longer significantly associated with insomnia after adjustments for worry and rumination, but anxiety remained significant. Worry and rumination predicted insomnia both cross-sectionally and prospectively, even after controlling for anxiety and depression, although anxiety remained significant. Future studies may test psychological interventions targeting these factors in patients with coronary heart disease and insomnia. Frøjd LA, Papageorgiou C, Munkhaugen J, etal. Worry and rumination predict insomnia in patients with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study with long-term follow-up. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(3):779-787.

Kidcope and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding High School Students' Coping and Emotional Well-Being.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation, grief, and loss among many adolescents. As the pandemic continues to impact individuals and communities across the globe, it is critical to address the psychological well-being of youths. More studies are needed to understand the effective ways adolescents cope with pandemic-related psychological distress. In this study, 146 students from 1 high school in a U.S. midwestern state completed an adapted version of Kidcope, a widely used coping instrument in disaster research, and measures were taken on generalized distress and COVID-19-related worries. Findings indicated that most students experienced COVID-19-related fears and general emotional distress. Additionally, we found that disengagement coping strategies were associated with lower general distress (p ≤ 0.05) and COVID-19 worries (p ≤ 0.10). Active coping was not associated with general distress and COVID-19 worries. Overall, our findings highlight the need to develop tailored interventions targeting youth coping strategies to reduce and prevent emotional distress and amplify healthy coping skills as the pandemic persists.

Thinking ahead: Parents' worries about late effects of childhood cancer treatment.

Many childhood cancersurvivors experience at least one late effect of treatment, and both late effects and persistent cancer-related worry can negatively impact quality of life in survivorship. Little is known about the prevalence or impact of parental worry about late effects early in treatment. This study evaluated parental perceived likelihood, impact, and worry about late effects of childhood cancer. We surveyed 96 parents of pediatric cancer patients at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center within a year of diagnosis. Parents were asked about their experiences with late effects communication, general worry about late effects, and specific late effect worries. Most (96%) parents valued information about late effects, and 93% considered late effects in their treatment decision-making. Yet, 24% could not recall receiving any information about late effects, and only 51% felt well prepared for potential late effects. Though only 20% of parents considered their child at high risk of experiencing late effects, 61% were extremely/very worried about late effects. Those who felt their child was at high risk of experiencing late effects were more likely to worry (OR=4.7, P=0.02). Many parents feel inadequately informed about late effects of cancer treatment, and only one-fifth of parents consider late effects to be likely for their child. However, a majority of parents worry about late effects, including ones they think their child is unlikely to experience. Although some worry is anticipated, disproportionate worry may be mitigated by addressing both educational shortfalls and emotional concerns.

The dark side of Brazil: Effects of dark traits on general COVID-19 worry and responses against the pandemic

Brazil is one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., 563,470 deaths until August 9th, 2021). Since the Brazilian government is partly struggling and partly unwilling to control the pandemic, staying healthy falls almost exclusively to the population. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the predictive role of personality traits to explain the willingness to combat the COVID-19 virus. In the present study (N = 496), we investigated the Dark Pentad traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism, and spitefulness. Our findings revealed that the first four traits were consistently negatively associated with various measures that indicate whether the pandemic is taken seriously, such as the perceived severity of COVID-19 and intentions to act against COVID-19. Structural equation modeling further showed that general COVID-19 worry mediated the link between the Dark Pentad and adaptive and maladaptive responses. Our results indicate that all dark traits are associated with unsocial behaviors, but their relative importance varies depending on the outcome variable.

What people with diabetes in Denmark worry about during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study of the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To investigate and characterise general and diabetes‐specific worries related to COVID‐19 among people with diabetes in Denmark during the first 3 months of the pandemic.In a longitudinal study from March to June 2020, six online questionnaires (Q1–Q6) were distributed to 2430 adult members of two diabetes panels. Worries related to COVID‐19 were measured with closed‐ and open‐ended items. Data from closed‐ended items were analysed descriptively. Open‐ended responses were analysed with systematic text condensation. Using chi‐squared tests, changes in proportions of worries over time were analysed, and differences in diabetes‐specific worries by gender and diabetes diagnosis were explored.At Q1, 1366 individuals returned a response (Q2: 1082, Q3: 992, Q4: 977, Q5: 901, Q6: 816). In the beginning of the pandemic, 2 weeks after the first lockdown in Denmark, the most frequently reported general worries related to someone close becoming seriously ill, changes in daily life such as limitations on social interactions and uncertainty about the duration of those changes. The most frequently reported diabetes‐specific worries were about severity of illness with COVID‐19 due to diabetes, being identified as a member of a group at risk for COVID‐19 and being unable to manage diabetes if ill with COVID‐19. All concerns decreased over 3 months, as the society gradually reopened, except for persistent worries about being able to manage diabetes if ill with COVID‐19. More women and people with type 1 diabetes reported worries, compared with men and people with type 2 diabetes.Our study highlights the diversity of worries related to the COVID‐19 pandemic among people with diabetes and changing patterns of worry over time and across subgroups as the society reopened in Denmark. These insights can be helpful when providing support for people with diabetes during health crises.

Can measures of sleep quality or white matter structural integrity predict level of worry or rumination in adolescents facing stressful situations? Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionCOVID-19 has resulted in major life changes to the majority of the world population, particularly adolescents, with social-distancing measures such as home-based schooling likely to impact sleep quality. Increased worry is also likely considering the substantial financial, educational and health concerns accompanying COVID-19. White matter (WM) integrity has been shown to be associated with anxiety and depression symptoms, including worry, as well being closely associated with sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the associations between pre-COVID sleep quality, WM structural integrity and levels of worry and rumination about COVID. MethodsN = 30 adolescent participants from Queensland, Australia, completed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scanning pre-COVID, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) pre and during COVID, and 9 items designed to measure 3 constructs, perceived impact of COVID, general worry, and COVID-specific worry and rumination. ResultsSleep quality (PSQI total) was significantly poorer during COVID compared with pre-COVID. Sleep onset latency measured pre-COVID was significantly associated with COVID-specific worry and rumination. While the structural integrity of a number of WM tracts (measured pre-COVID) were found to be significantly associated with COVID-specific worry and rumination. Follow-up regression analysis using a model including pre-COVID sleep onset latency, structural integrity of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), gender and change in PSQI explained a significant 47% of the variance in COVID-specific worry and rumination. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that adolescents with poor sleep quality and perturbed WM integrity may be at risk of heightened reactivity to future stressful events and interventions should focus on improving sleep onset latency.