COVID-19-related anxiety predicts somatic symptoms in the UK population.

Authors :: Shevlin M
Nolan E
Owczarek M
McBride O
Murphy J
Gibson Miller J
Hartman TK
Levita L
Mason L
Martinez AP
McKay R
Stocks TVA
Bennett KM
Hyland P
Bentall RP
Source :: British journal of health psychology [Br J Health Psychol] 2020 Nov; Vol. 25 (4), pp. 875-882. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 27.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: This study aimed to estimate the association between anxiety associated with COVID-19 and somatic symptoms, using data from a large, representative sample (N = 2,025) of the UK adult population. Results showed that moderate to high levels of anxiety associated with COVID-19 were significantly associated with general somatic symptoms and in particular with gastrointestinal and fatigue symptoms. This pattern of associations remained significant after controlling for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), pre-existing health problems, age, gender, and income. This is the first evidence that anxiety associated with COVID-19 makes a unique contribution to somatization, above and beyond the effect of GAD.<br /> (© 2020 The Authors. British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.)