IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i6p900-d1672608.html

Protective but Costly: The Impact of Behavioral Immune System Reactivity on Mental Health

Author

Listed:
  • Ivana Hromatko

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Una Mikac

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Anita Lauri Korajlija

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Nataša Jokić-Begić

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Tanja Jurin

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Meri Tadinac

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

The behavioral immune system (BIS) refers to a set of evolved psychological mechanisms designed to detect cues of potential pathogen threat and trigger self-protective, avoidant behaviors. However, like all adaptations, the BIS carries potential costs alongside its benefits. This study aimed to examine the impact of BIS-related processes on mental health outcomes—including depression, anxiety, stress, and obsessive–compulsive symptomatology—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected online at two time points: the onset of the pandemic (May 2020; n = 990; 86% women) and at the end of its first year (November/December 2020; a subsample of the original participants, n = 182). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, entering socioeconomic variables and general quality of life in the first block, followed by BIS-related variables (germ aversion and perceived infectability) in the second block. Results showed that socioeconomic status and general quality of life were significant predictors of mental health difficulties at both time points, consistent with prior findings on the harmful effects of environmental and social stressors. Importantly, BIS variables also emerged as significant and independent predictors of mental health outcomes—including the development of obsessive–compulsive symptoms—highlighting the potential psychological costs of pathogen-avoidant motivations governed by the BIS.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivana Hromatko & Una Mikac & Anita Lauri Korajlija & Nataša Jokić-Begić & Tanja Jurin & Meri Tadinac, 2025. "Protective but Costly: The Impact of Behavioral Immune System Reactivity on Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:6:p:900-:d:1672608
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/6/900/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/6/900/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Winkleby, M.A. & Jatulis, D.E. & Frank, E. & Fortmann, S.P., 1992. "Socioeconomic status and health: How education, income, and occupation contribute to risk factors for cardiovascular disease," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(6), pages 816-820.
    2. Goodman, E. & Slap, G.B. & Huang, B., 2003. "The Public Health Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Adolescent Depression and Obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(11), pages 1844-1850.
    3. repec:plo:pmed00:1003354 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Veljko Jovanović & Milica Lazić, 2020. "Is Longer Always Better? A Comparison of the Validity of Single-item Versus Multiple-item Measures of Life Satisfaction," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 675-692, July.
    5. Natalie J Shook & Barış Sevi & Jerin Lee & Benjamin Oosterhoff & Holly N Fitzgerald, 2020. "Disease avoidance in the time of COVID-19: The behavioral immune system is associated with concern and preventative health behaviors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Caroline Barakat & Theodore Konstantinidis, 2023. "A Review of the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status Change and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Jake M. Najman & William Wang & Maria Plotnikova & Abdullah A. Mamun & David McIntyre & Gail M. Williams & James G. Scott & William Bor & Alexandra M. Clavarino, 0. "Poverty over the early life course and young adult cardio-metabolic risk," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 0, pages 1-10.
    3. M. Vernay & B. Salanave & C. Peretti & C. Druet & A. Malon & V. Deschamps & S. Hercberg & K. Castetbon, 2013. "Metabolic syndrome and socioeconomic status in France: The French Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS, 2006–2007)," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(6), pages 855-864, December.
    4. Syed Hasan & Odmaa Narantungalag, & Martin Berka, 2022. "The intended and unintended consequences of large electricity subsidies: evidence from Mongolia," Discussion Papers 2202, School of Economics and Finance, Massey University, New Zealand.
    5. Chunping Han, 2014. "Health Implications of Socioeconomic Characteristics, Subjective Social Status, and Perceptions of Inequality: An Empirical Study of China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 495-514, November.
    6. Wenjian Zhou & Jianming Hou & Meng Sun & Chang Wang, 2022. "The Impact of Family Socioeconomic Status on Elderly Health in China: Based on the Frailty Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Fahmy, Chantal, 2025. "Self-reported offending and drug use after prison release: The pernicious role of stress during reentry," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Manka Eunice Fuh & Brice Wilfried Obiang-Obounou*, 2019. "Overview of Migrant Women’s Health in South Korea: Policy Recommendations," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 5(3), pages 709-714, 03-2019.
    9. Melissa P L Chan & Robert S Weinhold & Reuben Thomas & Julia M Gohlke & Christopher J Portier, 2015. "Environmental Predictors of US County Mortality Patterns on a National Basis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-25, December.
    10. Alessio Gori & Daniel Dewey & Eleonora Topino & Marco Giannini & David Schuldberg, 2022. "How Stable, Really? Traditional and Nonlinear Dynamics Approaches to Studying Temporal Fluctuations in Personality and Affect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Ching-Jung Yu & Jung-Chieh Du & Hsien-Chih Chiou & Chun-Cheng Feng & Ming-Yi Chung & Winnie Yang & Ying-Sheue Chen & Ling-Chu Chien & Betau Hwang & Mei-Lien Chen, 2016. "Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Is Adversely Associated with Childhood Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    12. Yang Xiao & Yanjie Bian & Lei Zhang, 2020. "Mental Health of Chinese Online Networkers under COVID-19: A Sociological Analysis of Survey Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, November.
    13. Patricia Rarau & Justin Pulford & Hebe Gouda & Suparat Phuanukoonon & Chris Bullen & Robert Scragg & Bang Nguyen Pham & Barbara McPake & Brian Oldenburg, 2019. "Socio-economic status and behavioural and cardiovascular risk factors in Papua New Guinea: A cross-sectional survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Carlo Castellana, 2012. "Impact of the economic crisis on the Italian public healthcare expenditure," Papers 1205.2863, arXiv.org.
    15. Mejía-Guevara, Iván, 2015. "Economic inequality and intergenerational transfers: Evidence from Mexico," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 5(C), pages 23-32.
    16. Natalia Arias & María Dolores Calvo & José Alberto Benítez-Andrades & María José Álvarez & Beatriz Alonso-Cortés & Carmen Benavides, 2018. "Socioeconomic Status in Adolescents: A Study of Its Relationship with Overweight and Obesity and Influence on Social Network Configuration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Amélie Adeline & Ismaël Choinière Crèvecoeur & Raquel Fonseca & Pierre-Carl Michaud, 2019. "Income Volatility, Health and Well-Being," Cahiers de recherche / Working Papers 1906, Chaire de recherche sur les enjeux économiques intergénérationnels / Research Chair in Intergenerational Economics.
    18. Grant Johnston, 2004. "Healthy, wealthy and wise? A review of the wider benefits of education," Treasury Working Paper Series 04/04, New Zealand Treasury.
    19. Stacey, Brian, 2015. "Econometric Predictions From Demographic Factors Affecting Overall Health," MPRA Paper 68915, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 06 Dec 2015.
    20. Mohd Shannawaz & Isha Rathi & Nikita Shah & Shazina Saeed & Amrish Chandra & Harpreet Singh, 2025. "Prevalence of CVD Among Indian Adult Population: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-16, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:6:p:900-:d:1672608. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.