The relationship between perceived stress and emotional distress during the COVID-19 outbreak: Effects of boredom proneness and coping style

Highlights

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  This cross-sectional study was conducted during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.

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  Higher level of perceived stress due to the COVID-19 epidemic was related with more emotional distress.

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  Stress related increase in emotional distress is mediated by boredom proneness.

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  Positive coping strategies act as a buffer in alleviating emotional distress while negative coping strategies may aggravate emotional symptoms under stress.

Abstract

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was a great threat to the physical and mental health of the general population. Our research aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and emotional distress during the initial outbreak. Furthermore, potential risk and protective factors, i.e., coping and boredom proneness, of stress-related emotional distress were also explored. Data from 3233 participants in China were collected through an online survey platform during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 from January 31 to February 9 in 2020. The results showed that higher perceived stress was associated with more emotional distress including depression, fear, compulsion-anxiety, neurasthenia, and hypochondria. Boredom proneness significantly and positively mediated the relationship between perceived stress and emotional distress. Moreover, coping style moderated the stress-emotional distress relationship, i.e., individuals who mainly adopted positive coping strategies suffered fewer symptoms of depression, compulsion-anxiety, and neurasthenia under stress, while negative coping strategies aggravated emotional distress. The results from the present study provide practical value for mental health intervention during the emergent public health events.