Factors associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australians’ daily lives: the role of coping strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting public health orders resulted in significant disruptions to people's daily lives, employment, social activities, and health. Whilst different sociodemographic groups were more vulnerable to being negatively impacted by the pandemic, coping theory suggests that how one appraises and responds to stressors can shape the severity of impact. This study aimed to examine how coping strategies predicted the perceived impact of COVID-19 on different aspects of life beyond sociodemographics, pandemic-related perceptions, and other psychological characteristics. Australian adults completed an online survey at two distinct time points of the pandemic (T1 <i>N</i> = 582, T2 <i>N</i> = 436). An original scale captured COVID-19 impacts on various domains of life. Hierarchical multiple regressions predicted impacts, with sociodemographic variables, pandemic-related attitudes, psychological characteristics, and coping strategies added incrementally. Sociodemographic factors were more related to negative impacts on work, financial circumstances, and family responsibilities, while coping variables were more associated with impact on mental health, physical health, and social connections. Extending existing literature showing relationships between coping strategies and psychological outcomes, our findings showed several coping strategies to contribute to impacts across various life domains more broadly. Findings help to identify those most vulnerable to negative impacts and coping strategies which mitigate or exacerbate impacts. This can inform public health interventions which support at-risk groups and promote adaptive coping to foster resilience and preparedness amidst current and future crises.