Detrimental Associations of Cumulative Trauma,COVID-19 Infection Indicators,Avoidance,and Loneliness With Sleep and Negative Emotionality in Emerging Adulthood During the Pandemic

Abstract

While effects of COVID-19 on physical health are the subject of much research, it is also important to understand risk factors for negative psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. Undergraduates (N = 490, M_age = 20.4) completed measures regarding prior trauma, COVID-19 infection indicators, stressors and trauma, coping, loneliness, social support, sleep behaviors, and negative emotionality. Results demonstrate that pre-existing trauma, COVID-19 stressors, loneliness, and avoidant coping exhibit independent and synergistic associations with poor sleep quality and negative emotionality. Associations between both COVID-19 stressors and avoidant coping with sleep quality were the strongest among those with higher levels of cumulative trauma. Avoidant coping was most strongly associated with higher levels of negative emotions among those reporting COVID infection indicators. Findings suggest a comprehensive set of specific pandemic and general life factors associated with worse outcomes, contributing to the development of a conceptual model of pandemic behavioral and emotional risk for emerging adults.

Keywords

trauma sleep negative emotionality coping social support COVID-19

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