What makes one feel eustress or distress in quarantine? An analysis from conservation of resources (COR) theory

Abstract

Objective. Health quarantines produce serious deterioration in psychological health,which becomes more affected the longer the quarantine lasts. According to theConservation of Resources theory from Hobfoll (1989,American Psychologist, 44, 513),those people who have a good supply of resources will be able to cope better with theadversities and will show less distress. The objective of this research is to identify what arethe resources that, in a situation of confinement under the threat of COVID-19, predicteustress or well-being, and the loss or lack of which resources predict distress ordiscomfort.

Design and Method. A total of 839 people complete an online questionnaire duringthe first week of COVID-19 confinement in Spain. The sample is weighted to obtain adistribution that is similar to the Spanish population. Using multiple linear regressionanalysis, factors are identified that are associated with eustress and distress based on theConservation of Resources theory.

Results. A model is identified that explains 55% of the variance of eustress consistingmostly of personal resources, with vitality as the recourse having the most weight. Thefactors that explain distress (18.9% of the variance) are those related to work(employment situation, work satisfaction, and time devoted to work) and conditions inthe home (space).

Conclusions. The models that predict eustress and distress are completely different.Based on these results, a series of recommendations are proposed aimed at increasingeustress and reducing distress in a situation of confinement. Additionally, proposals areoffered for future research