Character Strengths Predict an Increase in Mental Health and Subjective Well-Being Over a One-Month Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Abstract

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.

Suffering and Salutogenesis: A Conceptual Analysis of Lessons for Psychiatry From Existential Positive Psychology (PP2.0) in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Most of the GRRs reported in the literature thus far are of a psychological or social nature. For example, character strengths-such as the innate ability to withstand adversity or to maintain good interpersonal relationships-have been associated with better mental health and well-being during a COVID-19-related lockdown (Martinez-Marti et al, 2020). The use of coping strategies that focus more on problem-solving was associated with reduced psychological distress in nurses exposed to an increased workload during the pandemic (Lorente et al, 2020).…”

Individual Differences Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Age, Gender, Personality, and Positive Psychology

“…For example, a study indicated that meaningful living had a positive predictive effect on resilience and positive affect, as well as a negative predictive value on psychological health challenges and negative affect on the psychological health of young adults in the context of the pandemic (Arslan et al, 2020 ). Martínez-Martí et al ( 2020 ) evaluated the trait strengths of the general Spanish population at two points throughout the pandemic, noting that all character strength factors at point #1 correlated positively with life satisfaction and positive affect, and negatively with negative affect and poor mental health at point #2. In the health context of the pandemic, a nurse's sample (Sun et al, 2020 ) found self-coping styles included altruistic acts, team support, rational cognition, increased affection and gratefulness, development of professional responsibility, and self-reflection.…”

The Relationships between Character Strengths and Subjective Wellbeing: Evidence from Greece under Lockdown during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Zest gives people the strength to work even under harsh conditions [26], such as quarantine, where people had to adapt to a new reality [45]. Hope positively predicted engagement, as it is a strength that gives people motivation for the future [46] because hope makes people more able to cope with the loss of their loved ones and more generally, to cope with disappointment and difficulties [47]. Persistence enhances engagement through the effort it applies to overcoming cognitive challenges [48] and to finishing every activity that one starts [20], which is more difficult in quarantine due to the various restrictions [45].…”

“…Creativity positively predicted engagement by considering new and productive ways to do things and curiosity by making ongoing experiences more interesting [20]. Especially, in a new, unexpected, and crucial period such as pandemics and quarantine, strengths such as creativity and curiosity were found to be extremely useful for people to cope with their new everyday life because they had to come up new ways of living, working, and entertaining themselves [46]. Appreciation of beauty is correlated with engagement by noticing skilled performance in all domains of life [20], as engagement is correlated to fulfillment, a strength such as appreciation of beauty could facilitate a much better adjustment to the requests of the environment.…”

“…Appreciation of beauty is correlated with engagement by noticing skilled performance in all domains of life [20], as engagement is correlated to fulfillment, a strength such as appreciation of beauty could facilitate a much better adjustment to the requests of the environment. During this lockdown period, the population was required to learn different ways of working, examining, relaxing, and being at the side their nearest and dearest among other day by day propensities, allowing them to adapt better and resulting in higher wellbeing levels [46]. Commitment is a crucial component of love, as it promotes familiarity and similarity, which can increase engagement among people, a very important element of people relationships because it is in this way that relationships are more unfading over the course of many years [49], and during quarantine, relationships were tested [45].…”