Framing the meaning of COVID-19 and the psychological responses to it: Insights gleaned from selected theoretical approaches

Abstract

This viewpoint article reviews theoretical approaches that are relevant to studying COVID-19 and the psychological reactions to it. We suggest that the published research can be viewed from four major theoretical perspectives: as a stress situation, traumatic event, shared reality/shared trauma, and loss and grief situation. We detail the terms and the main theory/ies underlying each approach and suggest how COVID-19 characteristics and the its’ psychological consequences may be conceptualized in accordance with each approach. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and facets of each theoretical conceptualization that should be addressed in further research, and the necessity of exploring implications for practice.