Behavioral Immune System, Psychological Immune System, and General Psychophysical Health during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

With innate biological immunity proving inept and an acute lack of effective SARS-CoV-2 medication/immunization, strict restrictive, preventive, and protective measures were introduced worldwide. Despite flattening the pandemic-growth curve, these were met with resistance and heightened psychopathology among the masses. Acknowledging individuals’ distinct adaptations towards supporting and protecting their health before/when any disease-state emerges in their body or the population surrounding them holds implications for population health and the public health programs. Humans have evolved a concomitant behavioral immune system (BIS), a coordinated suite of psychological mechanisms (affective-cognitive-behavioral) that motivate prophylactic avoidance of infectious-disease vectors. They also possess Psychological Immune System (PIS) comprising personal resilience resources and adaptive capacities that can promote psychological health-protective behaviors. The present phenomenological study explores the dynamics of general populations’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, to understand their behavioral immune, psychological immune, and general psychophysical health functioning and the association between them. An attempt has been made to validate the BIS model (Schaller & Park, 2011) and the PIS (Olah, 1996) within the pandemic context. Semi-structured and in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with thirty-five participants. Data was analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis. Participants had deteriorated psychophysical health and an activated BIS. Heightened BIS consequated negative attitudes and outcomes. PIS resources helped maintain functionality, positivity, and stress-resistance, and those with lower behavioral immune activation and psychological immunity had more health-related complaints. The study demonstrates that BIS and PIS are important factors for health behavior and well-being and suggests a more integrative approach to health research.