Page 75 - JCBP-3-3

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Emotional effects of COVID-19 memories

Table 1. Table 1/A contains descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) of the EDA data used in the statistical
analysis and the result of the independent t-test between genders. Table 1/B contains descriptive statistics (means and standard
deviations) of the self-report data used in the statistical analysis and the result of the independent t-test between genders.

1/A Male (n=11) Female (n=34) Significance (P) 1/B Male (n=9) Female (n=27) Significance
Mean±SD Mean±SD Mean±SD Mean±SD (P)
DASS-21 anxiety 9.91±2.46 12.56±3.69 P=0.032
Baseline 21.39±10.45 20.90±12.51 0.898 Baseline N/A N/A N/A
Quarantine 19.60±9.98 21.77±13.22 0.622 Quarantine 3.67±0.73 4.78±0.90 P=0.002
Daily Routine 21.52±11.18 21.70±13.13 0.969 Daily Routine 4.72±0.94 5.19±1.29 P=0.331
Fear of Infection 20.84±9.45 20.87±12.76 0.995 Fear of Infection 4.19±0.74 4.73±0.84 P=0.098
News Exposure 22.53±11.14 20.64±12.52 0.658 News Exposure 3.74±1.28 4.80±1.07 P=0.019
Loneliness 21.31±10.79 20.18±12.11 0.785 Loneliness 4.11±1.54 4.19±1.77 P=0.912
Searching for Information 21.64±10.37 20.52±12.75 0.794 Searching for Information 4.04±1.33 4.41±1.17 P=0.431
Panic Buying 22.27±10.75 21.14±13.18 0.797 Panic Buying 3.93±1.44 4.81±1.26 P=0.086
Financial Difficulties 21.40±10.10 20.64±11.84 0.849 Financial Difficulties 4.04±0.95 4.62±1.37 P=0.248
Online Education 21.61±11.17 21.01±12.87 0.89 Online Education 3.15±1.56 4.56±1.56 P=0.025
Abbreviation: DASS: Depression, anxiety and stress scale.

other. After Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing
daily routine and loneliness remained significantly different
t (1,35) = 3.53, P = 0.001. Anxiety related to disruptions in
daily routine was rated significantly higher than anxiety
related to loneliness. Descriptive statistics of the used
variables are provided in Table 1/B. Test of normality of the
used variables is provided in Table 2.
3.3. Baseline EDA scores
To identify whether baseline EDA scores significantly differed
during the experiment, we conducted repeated measure
ANOVA with the within subject effects of (baseline EDA Figure 1. Self-report scores of COVID-19 stressors
scores) and introduced self-reported anxiety as a covariate Note: Figure 1 depicts self-report scores of COVID-19 stressors. Error
in the model. The repeated measure ANOVA yielded no bars represent the 95% confidence intervals.
significant effects. Overall, EDA did not significantly change
during the experiment in between memory recalls. The repeated measure ANOVA yielded a main effect of
memories F (7.28, 305.54) = 2.65, P = 0.010, η = 0.06. It
2
3.4. Analysis of EDA during COVID-19 memory recall also resulted in a significant interaction effect of memories
In this study, present anxiety was included as a covariate to and self-reported anxiety, F (7.28, 305.54) = 3.35, P = 0.02,
account for individual differences in baseline psychological η = 0.07, and a significant interaction effect of gender and
2
states, which may influence both subjective and memories, F (7.28, 305.54) = 2.10, P = 0.041, η = 0.05.
2
physiological responses to stress. Reliability analysis of the The analysis yielded a significant between subject effect of
questionnaire is provided in Table 3. To analyze whether anxiety, F (1,42) = 10.70, P = 0.002, η = 0.20. According
2
COVID-19-related memories significantly differed in their to the analysis, memories elicited significantly different
corresponding EDA from each other and from baseline EDA. These results were moderated by anxiety and gender
measures and whether anxiety played a moderating factor (Figures 2 and 3). After Bonferroni adjustment, however,
in this effect, repeated measure ANOVA was conducted none of the results stayed significant. Participants with
with the within subject effects of memories (9 COVID-19- higher self-reported anxiety tended to show higher levels
related memories and 1 baseline average) and with self- of EDA. Genders differed in their EDA during different
report anxiety as a covariate. To explore gender differences, memories. Descriptive statistics of the used variables
gender (Male and Female) was included as a between are provided in Table 1/A. Test of normality of the used
subject variable in the repeated measure ANOVA. variables is provided in Table 2.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 69 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.4825