Perceived value threat of COVID-19 is related to anxiety symptoms

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies showed that stress and anxiety increased during the Covid-19 pandemic (Bäuerle et al., 2020; Salari et al., 2020). It is important to identify factors which are related to this increase. OBJECTIVES: In present study we investigated how perceived value threat of Covid-19 is related to anxiety and depression symptoms in April – May 2020 during the lockdown in Russia. METHODS: Three hundred and four participants were recruited online (M(age)=33.18, SD=13.33, 108 males, 194 females). Participants completed the Short Schwartz’s Value Survey (SSVS; Lindeman & Verkasalo, 2010). They were next asked to rate how likely their values could be threatened because of the Covid-19. They also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996). RESULTS: A multiple linear regression model was built to assess how own values and values threatened by Covid-19 explain state anxiety during the lockdown. Threat to openness values was positively related to state anxiety (b=1.07, SE=.49, β=.13, p=.032). Threat to conservation values was only marginally related to state anxiety (b=1.03, SE=.58, β=.13, p=.074). The effects of self-enhancement and self-transcendence values were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: When Covid-19 is perceived as a threat to openness to change values – hedonism, stimulation and self-direction – people experience higher level of anxiety symptoms. Interestingly, perceived threat of Covid-19 to security, conformity and tradition was only marginally related to anxiety. Future studies might explore how encouraging people to fulfill their openness to change values in a safe mode might decrease the level of anxiety.