Character strengths predict an increase in mental health and subjective well-being over a one-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Identificadores
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12020/1294ISSN: 1664-1078
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584567
Fecha
2020-10Tipo de documento
articleÁrea/s de conocimiento
PsicologíaResumen
This study examines whether character strengths predict resilience (operationalized as
stable or higher mental health and subjective well-being despite an adverse event) over
a period of approximately 1 month during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spain.
Using a longitudinal design, participants (N = 348 adults) completed online measures of
sociodemographic data, information regarding their situation in relation to the COVID-19,
character strengths, general mental health, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative
affect. All variables were measured at Time 1 and Time 2, except for sociodemographic
and most COVID-related information (Time 1 only). Time 1 data collection was
conducted between March 21, 2020 and April 2, 2020, i.e., approximately the second
week of lockdown in Spain. Time 2 data collection was conducted between April
24, 2020 and May 18, 2020, after the Spanish government announced its intention
to progressively release the lockdown. A principal component analysis of character
strengths was conducted. Five character strength factors were extracted: fortitude,
goodness, intellectual, interpersonal, and restraint. Factor structures at Times 1 and
2 were highly consistent. All character strength factors at Time 1 correlated positively
with life satisfaction and positive affect, and negatively with negative affect and mental
health at T2 (higher scores in the mental health measure indicate poorer mental
health). Fortitude strengths showed the highest correlations. We conducted a series of
regression analyses with strength factors at Time 1 as predictors, and mental health, life
satisfaction, and positive and negative affect as dependent variables, controlling for their
baseline levels. To test the directionality of the relationship between strengths and the
dependent variables, all analyses were reversed. All character strength factors predicted
an increase in mental health. They also predicted positive affect, with the exception
of strengths of restraint. Fortitude, intellectual, and interpersonal strengths predicted
an increase in life satisfaction. Finally, fortitude strengths, interpersonal strengths, and
strengths of restraint, predicted a decrease in negative affect. None of the reversed
analyses yielded significant effects. Limitations, implications, and possible character
strengths-based interventions aimed at promoting mental health in the COVID-19
pandemic are discussed.