Avoidant Coping as Moderator of Risk Percetion and Anxiety in Pandemic Context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29059/rpcc.20241122-179Keywords:
Risk perception, Avoidant Coping, Covid-19, Comorbidity, Protective Behavior.Abstract
Risk perception plays a crucial role in predicting both anxiety and protective behaviors amidst uncertainty. Drawing from Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory, maladaptive coping strategies are suggested to moderate the relationship between risk perception and anxiety. This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of avoidant coping strategies on anxiety levels predicted by risk perception during the Covid-19 pandemic. A sample of 395 individuals with potential Covid-19 comorbidities, averaging 37.5 years, participated in non-experimental assessments using psychometric scales to measure anxiety, Covid-19 risk perception, avoidant coping, and protective behaviors. Comparative analyses by age and gender were conducted alongside structural modeling employing partial least squares to explore the moderating role of avoidant coping. Results revealed a significant positive effect of avoidant coping strategies on increasing anxiety predicted by risk perception. These findings underscore the importance of fostering healthier coping mechanisms in future public health initiatives to mitigate the adverse impacts of risk communication regarding disease threats.
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