Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis in a representative sample

Abstract Prior research has focused on distinct coping strategies or groups of coping strategies. However, recent research supports the idea that there are distinct coping profiles that contain unique sets of coping strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify combinations of coping strategies in a general non-clinical adult population and to examine whether the coping profiles differ in perceptions of coronavirus risk, confidence in safeguards and psychological distress. This paper used K-means clustering in a large representative sample (N=2077) of adults. The cluster analysis yielded four distinct categories (High Active Copers, Average Active Copers, Indifferent Disengaged Copers, and Avoidant Overusing Copers) and they differed significantly in appraisal of coronavirus threat, confidence in safeguards, and general mental health indicators. In particular, Indifferent Disengaged Copers and Avoidant Overusing Copers reported the highest levels of general dysfunction and the lowest level of confidence in themselves or family behavior safeguards. These two groups therefore had the least effective coping skills and seemed to be particularly vulnerable in terms of their ability to regulate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings could be used to help develop more adequate prevention and intervention for people during pandemics or other adversities.