Data in Brief (Feb 2021)

Psychological reactions to COVID-19: Survey data assessing perceived susceptibility, distress, mindfulness, and preventive health behaviors

  • William H. O'Brien,
  • Shan Wang,
  • Huanzhen Xu,
  • Shiwei Wang,
  • Zaiying Yang,
  • Joy Ting Yang,
  • Qinwanxian Liu,
  • Xin Zhang,
  • Lingli Tang,
  • Aniko V. Varga,
  • Tracy Sims,
  • Chung Xiann Lim,
  • Somboon Jarukasemthawee,
  • Kullaya Pisitsungkagarn

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 34
p. 106687

Abstract

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The COVID-19 pandemic created a complex psychological environment for persons in America. A total of 450 USA MTurk workers completed measures of: (a) basic demographic characteristics; (b) health risk factors for COVID-19; (c) perceived susceptibility variables related to COVID-19; (d) COVID-19 preventive health behaviors; and (e) distress, physical symptoms, and quality of life measures. The surveys were completed between April 9, 2020 and April 18, 2020. This recruitment period corresponded to the first 2–3 weeks of lockdown in most of the USA. Follow-up surveys were completed by 151 of the USA participants between June 19, 2020 and July 11, 2020 (approximately 2 months after the first measurement).These data permit evaluation of relationships among demographic variables, COVID-19 stress and coping, COVID-19 preventive health behavior, and the role of mindfulness as a possible moderator of distress as well as a predictor of preventive health behavior. The availability of follow-up data permit longitudinal analyses that provide a stronger basis for causal inference.

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