Cecilia Cheng|Omid V. Ebrahimi|Yan-Ching Lau
Maladaptive coping with the infodemic and sleep disturbance in the COVID?19 pandemic
Chinese University of Hong Kong|University of Hong Kong|University of Oslo|Modum Bad – Gordon Johnsens stiftelse|University College London
abstract covid19 caused novel virus unknown aetiology people across globe dealing health crisis also infodemic term coined world health organization refer avalanche contradictory information arousing widespread confusion anxiety study aimed examine prevalence anxiety sleep disturbance early stage pandemic unveil information coping process underlying differential susceptibility covid19 infection anxiety sleep disturbance participants 1270 adults 47 men age 4282 uk us completed initial time 1 followup time 2 surveys 16 22 march 18 24 may 2020 respectively prevalence probable clinically relevant anxiety 61 45 first second time points half participants anxiety group also reported mild severe sleep disturbance moreover 41 participants perceived enough covid19related information reported higher levels covid19 infection anxiety sleep disturbance time perceived enough information moderated mediation analysis identified two groups vulnerable psychological problems high blunters sought covid19related information online frequently high monitors sought information offline less frequently findings highlight importance good match information coping style strategy deployment dealing infodemic surrounding novel disease