Trait Vulnerability and Pandemic Stress Exposure Interactions Predicting Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

In 385 community adults, we hypothesized diathesis-stress interactions between trait vulnerabilities—high neuroticism, loneliness, and rumination, and low extraversion—and pandemic onset predicting depression and anxiety using retrospective pre-pandemic versus current May 2020 symptom reports. With limited exceptions, findings supported significant main effects and interactions on mood and anxiety symptoms.