engleski

Behavioral habituation, but emotional sensitization to COVID-19 threat: The role of behavioral immune system

Excessive health-related anxiety and heightened alertness to cues of pathogen threat has been shown to predict various adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the role of behavioral immune system related constructs in development of COVID-19 anxiety and its effect on preferred interpersonal distances. The data were collected at two time points: at the beginning of the pandemic (spring 2020) and again 6 months later, when the second wave hit its peak (winter 2020) in Croatia. A total of 136 participants responded on both occasions. We found a significant rise in COVID-19 related anxiety scores, but at the same time a reduction in preferred interpersonal distances (between strangers and acquaintances, while the preferred distance between oneself and a close person remained the same). This interesting pattern of behavioral habituation (greater tolerance toward physical proximity) but emotional sensitization (greater anxiety) to COVID-19 threat was further explored in relation to pathogen disgust, germ aversion and perceived infectability. Pathogen disgust was only a significant correlate of a shift in anxiety score, while having no correlation with shift in preferred distances. There were no significant changes in either perceived infectability or germ aversion across two time points. The role of BIS in habituation/sensitization to an ongoing health threat, as well as its possible role in certain psychopathologies will be discussed in light of these results. Practical implications, such as implementation of policies and reduced compliance as a function of duration of the pandemic will also be addressed.

behavioral immune system ; COVID ; anxiety ; pathogen disgust

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