Dealing with Uncertainty in the Era of COVID-19 Kate Sweeny, PhD - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Feb 23, 2024 202 likes •396 views

Dealing with Uncertainty in the Era of COVID-19 Kate Sweeny, PhD Teresa & Byron Pollitt Endowed Chair University of California, Riverside ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Weiwei Zhang Jenny Howell Collaborator Collaborator UC-Riverside UC-Merced

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Dealing with Uncertainty in the Era of COVID-19

Kate Sweeny, PhD Teresa & Byron Pollitt Endowed Chair University of California, Riverside

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Kyla Rankin, Julia Revord, Brandon Tran, Sarah Knapp, & Missy Wilson

Graduate Students, Life Events Lab UC-Riverside

Jenny Howell

Collaborator UC-Merced

Weiwei Zhang

Collaborator UC-Riverside

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KEY STUDIES TO DATE

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4 Will I get the virus? Will I die? When can I go back to work? Will someone I know get sick? Will I be able to travel this summer?

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What I’ve Learned

(i.e., Why This Whole Thing is So Hard)

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WAITING IS UNIQUELY STRESSFUL

WAITING REACTING PREPARING ACTING

CERTAINTY C O N T R O L

Sweeny (2018)

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WORRY IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Howell & Sweeny (2016) Howell & Sweeny (in press)

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MANY COPING STRATEGIES ARE INEFFECTIVE

Sweeny et al. (2016)

Coping Strategies Coping Strategies Coping Strategies ...

Planning
Hoping for the best
Bracing for the worst
Finding silver linings
Distraction
Suppression

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WORRY MAKES TIME SLOW DOWN

Rankin, Sweeny, & Xu (2019)

More worry Time slows down

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COVID-19 Study

Affected cities in China, Feb. 12-26

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STUDY DETAILS ▰ 6304 residents of Wuhan and other affected areas of China ▰ Online survey Feb. 12-26, 2020 ▻ Distributed on social media ▻ Mean age = 23 years old ▻ 66% women ▻ 30% in quarantine, most at least 2 weeks

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STUDY DETAILS ▰ Measures ▻ Emotional well-being ▻ Health behavior ▻ Expectations ▻ Perceived control ▻ Mindfulness ▻ Flow

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UNCERTAIN + NO CONTROL = UNIQUELY STRESSFUL

WAITING REACTING PREPARING ACTING

CERTAINTY C O N T R O L

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UNCERTAIN + NO CONTROL = UNIQUELY STRESSFUL

Howell, Sweeny, et al. (UR)

CERTAINTY C O N T R O L

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▻ Less negative emotion ▻ More positive emotion ▻ Fewer depressive symptoms ▻ Fewer anxious symptoms ▻ Less lonely ▻ More healthy behaviors

FINDINGS: MINDFULNESS AND FLOW

Sweeny et al. (UR)

▻ More positive emotion ▻ Fewer depressive symptoms ▻ Less loneliness ▻ More healthy behaviors ▻ Less unhealthy behaviors

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FINDINGS: MINDFULNESS AND FLOW

Sweeny et al. (UR)

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EFFECTIVE COPING STRATEGIES #1: Find your flow

Seek effective distractions to pass the time

#3: Meet your needs

Seek autonomy, competence, and relatedness

#2: Practice mindfulness

Meditate to reduce mental time travel

#4: Imagine a good future

Embrace a positive version of your future self

Howell & Sweeny (2019) Rankin, Walsh, & Sweeny (2018) Sweeny & Howell (2017) Rankin et al. (2019)

#5: Be inspired

Sweeny & Dunlop (in press)

Seek experiences of awe

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THANKS!

Any questions or comments? You can find me at www.katesweeny.com or ksweeny@ucr.edu