Can Coping Styles and Beliefs about Yourself Predict Coping Strategies in a Pandemic? Longitudinal Study on the Role of Hope, General Self-Efficacy, Prioritizing Positivity and Coping in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic took over the whole world in early spring 2020. There have already been a monumental number of cases of the virus, and there have been significant effects associated with getting sick. There are evidence of not only the deterioration of physical health but also mental health, for example, symptoms of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) have worsened (Abba-Aji et al., 2020; Frohman et al., 2020, Qiu et al., 2020). The pandemic has filled people with anxiety due to the novelty of the situation and because it is not clear how to behave in such a crisis. With the current situation, people are deprived of activities that could help reduce anxiety. It is recommended not to meet with relatives, and recreational places – such as gyms and restaurants – remain closed.