The effect of contamination disgust on Covid-19-related anxiety

G. Santarelli, M. Innocenti, V. Faggi, F. Galassi, G. Castellini, V. Ricca
2022 European psychiatry  
Introduction It is proven that high levels of disgust contribute to implementing protective behaviors. Investigators also discovered that the emotion of disgust plays a central role in determining anxiety related to the contraction of COVID-19. Few data are available about the role of the contamination disgust, a specific disgust domain, in this relationship. Objectives The effect of contamination disgust on COVID-19-related anxiety was investigated. Methods 295 healthy subjects were enrolled
more » ... rough an online survey. They completed Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R) and were asked to estimate their levels of Covid-19-related anxiety in 12 proposed situations. A total score was then calculated. An ANOVA model having Covid-19-related anxiety total score as dependent variable, and DS-R contamination disgust, age, and sex as predictors was estimated. Results The overall model was significant (F(3,291)=6.402, p<0.001) and explained 6.2% of total Covid-19 anxiety variance (R2=0.062). The effect of DS-R contamination disgust on Covid-19-related anxiety was positive, significant (B=0.974, t(291)=3.227, p=0.001) and explained 3.5% of Covid-19-related anxiety variance (partial η2=0.035). A significant effect of sex was detected (F(1,291)=4.919, p=0.027), with females having higher Covid-19-related anxiety than males, while no effect was detected for age (B=-0.024, t(291)=-0.884, p=0.377). Conclusions The presented data provide preliminary evidence for an effect of contamination disgust on Covid-19-related anxiety. Disclosure No significant relationships.
doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.211 fatcat:7ewi2jzprrb65dravqgkjtd3r4