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.