The Role of Experiential Avoidance in Terms of Fatigue and Pain During COVID-19 Among Latinx Adults

Background Latinx persons are overrepresented in terms of 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates and constitute a subpopulation at increased risk for COVID-19 related physical ailments. Fatigue and pain are among the most prevalent somatic symptoms among the Latinx population; however, there is little understanding of individual difference factors that are related to fatigue and pain during COVID-19 among this health disparities population. Experiential avoidance (EA) reflects the persistent tendency to avoid aversive internal sensations. Methods The current study sought to extend past work by exploring EA in relation to fatigue severity, pain intensity, and pain disability among 182 Latinx adult persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Results indicated that EA accounted for a statistically significant amount of variance across the criterion variables. Conclusions Overall, the current work provides initial empirical evidence that EA is related to greater fatigue severity and pain severity/disability among Latinx persons during COVID-19.