Resisting Fear: The Role of Problem-Solving Appraisals in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a global public health emergency and was associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Individual differences in response to traumatic stressors can be attributed to subjective cognitive appraisals. The current study investigated the role of problem-solving appraisals in the association between COVID-19-related fear and mental health outcomes. Participants were university students (N = 322). They completed a web-based survey comprising the Center for Epidemiological Studies depression scale, the fear of COVID-19 scale, the problem-solving inventory, the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist, and the satisfaction with life scale. Correlational analysis revealed that a heightened fear of COVID-19 was related to greater PTSD and depressive symptoms and a lower life satisfaction. Self-appraised ineffective problem-solving was associated with higher levels of PTSD and depression and a lower life satisfaction. Problem-solving appraisal moderated the relationship between fear of COVID-19, life satisfaction, PTSD, and depression, respectively. The findings suggest that problem-solving appraisals are a protective resource and have the potential to promote positive psychological functioning among young adults.