The Anxiety-Buffer Hypothesis in the Time of COVID-19: When Self-Esteem Protects From the Impact of Loneliness and Fear on Anxiety and Depression

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Alessandro Rossi¹  Anna Panzeri³  Giada Pietrabissa⁴  Gian Mauro Manzoni⁴  Gianluca Castelnuovo⁴  Stefania Mannarini¹ 

[1] Section of Applied Psychology, Department of Philosophy, University of Padua;Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, University of Padua;Unit of Psychology and Neuropsychology, Maugeri Scientific Institutes IRCCS;Psychology Research Laboratory, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano;Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan;Department of Psychology, eCampus University

关键词: COVID-19;    anxiety buffer hypothesis;    terror management theory;    anxiety;    depression;    self-esteem;    fear;    loneliness;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02177

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Introduction The coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has spread worldwide, generating intense fear of infection and death that may lead to enduring anxiety. At the same time, quarantine and physical isolation can intensify feelings of dispositional loneliness that, by focusing on thoughts of disconnection from others, can trigger intense anxiety. Anxiety, generated by both fear of COVID-19 and dispositional loneliness, can activate negative expectations and thoughts of death, potentially generating alarming depressive symptoms. However, the anxiety-buffer hypothesis suggests that self-esteem acts as a shield (buffer) against mental health threats – fear and loneliness – thus hampering anxiety and depressive symptoms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY