Network analysis of affect, emotion regulation, psychological capital, and resilience among Chinese males during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have confirmed that both affect and emotion regulation strategies are closely associated with psychological capital (PsyCap) and resilience. These factors are assumed to buffer the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, especially among males. However, these interactions have not been closely examined to date. To fill this gap, this paper explores the dimension-level relationships of these psychological constructs among Chinese males during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and identified critical bridge dimensions using network analysis.MethodsA total of 1,490 Chinese males aged 21–51 years completed self-report scales assessing emotion regulation strategies, affect, PsyCap, and psychological resilience. Two regularized partial correlation networks, namely the affect and emotion regulation-PsyCap network and the affect and emotion regulation-psychological resilience network, were then constructed to examine links between the dimensions of these constructs. The bridge expected influence (BEI) index was also calculated for each node to identify important bridge nodes.ResultsPositive affect, negative affect, cognitive reappraisal, and expressive suppression showed distinct and complex links to various dimensions of PsyCap or psychological resilience. In both networks, positive affect, cognitive reappraisal, and negative affect were identified as critical bridge nodes, with the first two having positive BEI values and the third having a negative value.ConclusionThe findings elucidate the specific role of the dimensions of emotion regulation or affect in relation to PsyCap and psychological resilience, which facilitates further understanding of the mechanisms underlying these interrelationships. These findings also provide implications for developing effective intervention strategies to increase PsyCap and psychological resilience.

The Role of Meaning in Life and Emotional Resilience in Predicting Mental Toughness: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the importance of psychological resilience and a sense of meaning in life. Studies by Guo et al (2023) and Zeng et al (2022) found that these factors were pivotal in helping individuals navigate the psychological challenges posed by the pandemic. The findings of this study contribute to this body of knowledge by showing that both meaning in life and emotional resilience are essential components of mental toughness, particularly in stressful times (Guo et al, 2023;Zeng et al, 2022).…”

“…Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not true at all) to 4 (true nearly all the time), with higher scores indicating greater resilience. The CD-RISC has been validated in numerous studies and has shown high reliability and validity across different populations, making it a reliable tool for assessing emotional resilience (Afek et al, 2021;Darbani & Parsakia, 2023;Eryilmaz et al, 2023;Guo et al, 2023; Han E-ISSN: 3041-8542 & Wang, 2022; İme & Ümmet, 2022;Li, 2023;Liu et al, 2018;Sugawara et al, 2021).…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of psychological resilience and mental toughness. The unprecedented stress and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic have tested individuals' coping capacities and highlighted the need for effective psychological support mechanisms (Guo et al, 2023). Studies conducted during the pandemic have demonstrated the critical role of psychological resilience in mitigating the adverse effects of stress and maintaining mental health (Han & Wang, 2022;Li & Xie, 2022).…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the significance of psychological resilience. Guo et al (2023) conducted a network analysis of affect, emotion regulation, psychological capital, and resilience among Chinese males during the late stage of the pandemic, revealing the intricate relationships between these variables (Guo et al, 2023). Han and Wang (2022) investigated how positive and negative mood states mediated the effects of psychological resilience on emotional stability among high school students during the pandemic, emphasizing the critical role of resilience in maintaining emotional well-being (Han & Wang, 2022).…”