Pandemic-Related Stress and Other Emotional Difficulties in a Sample of Men and Women Living in Romantic Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Alicja Kozakiewicz (), Zbigniew Izdebski, Maciej Białorudzki and Joanna Mazur
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Alicja Kozakiewicz: Department of Humanization of Health Care and Sexology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
Zbigniew Izdebski: Department of Humanization of Health Care and Sexology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
Maciej Białorudzki: Department of Humanization of Health Care and Sexology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
Joanna Mazur: Department of Humanization of Health Care and Sexology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: This study examined the extent to which relationship quality affects variability in perceived stress and other emotional difficulties associated with the pandemic. The study was conducted 2–17 March 2022 using a self-administered online survey. The sample size consisted of 1405 individuals who were in a romantic relationship. The scales used in the study included the PSS-4, ECR-RS, SLS-12 and the standardized Pandemic-ED scale (RMSEA = 0.032). Increased stress levels (U = −5.741), pandemic-related emotional difficulties (U = −8.720), worse romantic relationship quality (U = −2.564) and more frequent anxiety-related attachment (U = −3.371) were characteristic of women. A hierarchical regression model for stress showed that age (b = −0.143), financial situation (b = 0.024), the ECR-RS scores (b = 0.219) and pandemic-related emotional difficulties (b = 0.358) proved to be statistically significant predictors of stress. The hierarchical regression model for pandemic-related emotional difficulties indicated five predictors: gender (b = 0.166), education (b = 0.071), financial situation (b = 0.203), scores on the ECR-RS scale (b = 0.048) and stress (b = 0.367). The SEM model used has satisfactory fit indices (RMSEA = 0.051), romantic relationship quality scores and attachment styles interact with the variability of perceived pandemic-related stress and burdens. The determined model offers conclusions relevant to clinicians working with individuals and couples during periods of intense stress.

Keywords: stress; relationships; love; COVID-19; women; men; gender inequalities; SEM models; indirect effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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