Impact of Covid-19 on Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Stress

Research predicts an elevated risk of mental health conditions as a result of the pandemic (Kazlauskas & Quero, 2020). Practicing recommended preventative measures is associated with higher perceived risk of harm and increased anxiety (Quian, 2020). Gallagher et al. (2020) found a differential impact of pandemic related experiences on stress. We are measuring the impact of the pandemic, pandemic specific stress, and participation in preventative behaviors related to the pandemic in a sample of college students. For our main hypothesis, we expect to find that participants who have been impacted more severely by the pandemic will perceive a greater risk of harm from the virus and will be more likely to participate in preventative measures. Our second hypothesis predicts that participants who experienced greater negative impact from the pandemic will report higher stress than those who were impacted less significantly. Finally, we anticipate that participants who are engaging in preventative measures will report higher stress. Data has been collected (N=400) and analysis is in progress. This study will contribute to the limited body of social and psychological research of COVID-19, by replicating previous findings in which experiences within the pandemic differentially impact stress, while adding new considerations of preventative behaviors