TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimism as a protective factor against the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic through its effects on perceived stress and infection stress anticipation
AU - Puig-Perez, Sara
AU - Cano-López, Irene
AU - Martínez, Paula
AU - Kozusznik, Malgorzata W.
AU - Alacreu-Crespo, Adrian
AU - Pulopulos, Matias M.
AU - Duque, Aranzazu
AU - Almela, Mercedes
AU - Aliño, Marta
AU - Garcia-Rubio, María J.
AU - Pollak, Anita
AU - Kożusznik, Barbara
N1 - Funding Information:
This study has been funded by the Valencian International University (PII2020_04, awarded to PML, SPP, ICL, MAZ, ADM and MAC; PII2021_10, awarded to MAC, SPP, ICL, PML, ADM, MJGR, MAZ), Generalitat Valenciana (GV/2019/055, awarded to SPP, MAC, ADM and MAZ) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-117469GA-I00, awarded to MMP).
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the recommended social isolation presented a challenge to people’s mental health status. Optimism is a psychological factor that plays a key role in the evaluation of stressful situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress and Covid-19-related stress anticipation in the relationship between optimism and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Our sample included 1015 participants ranging in age from 18 to 79 years, 80% of whom were Spaniards. At the beginning of the worldwide pandemic, participants were confined to their homes for at least seven days and completed an online survey measuring various sociodemographic and psychological variables. We found an indirect effect of optimism on intrusion and hyperarousal through perceived stress and stress anticipation. In addition, we observed an indirect effect of optimism on avoidance through perceived stress. Finally, the results showed a significant indirect effect of optimism on the total post-traumatic stress symptoms score through perceived stress and stress anticipation. Our results indicate that positive beliefs inherent to optimism are related to less psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
AB - The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the recommended social isolation presented a challenge to people’s mental health status. Optimism is a psychological factor that plays a key role in the evaluation of stressful situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress and Covid-19-related stress anticipation in the relationship between optimism and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Our sample included 1015 participants ranging in age from 18 to 79 years, 80% of whom were Spaniards. At the beginning of the worldwide pandemic, participants were confined to their homes for at least seven days and completed an online survey measuring various sociodemographic and psychological variables. We found an indirect effect of optimism on intrusion and hyperarousal through perceived stress and stress anticipation. In addition, we observed an indirect effect of optimism on avoidance through perceived stress. Finally, the results showed a significant indirect effect of optimism on the total post-traumatic stress symptoms score through perceived stress and stress anticipation. Our results indicate that positive beliefs inherent to optimism are related to less psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
KW - ACTIVATION
KW - COVID-19
KW - COVID-19-related stress anticipation
KW - DEPRESSION
KW - DISORDER
KW - EXPOSURE
KW - NEUROTICISM
KW - Optimism
KW - PERSEVERATIVE COGNITION
KW - POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH
KW - PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES
KW - Perceived stress
KW - Post-traumatic stress symptoms
KW - Psychological impact
KW - QUARANTINE
KW - RESPONSES
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126356791&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12144-022-02819-3
DO - 10.1007/s12144-022-02819-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 35313448
AN - SCOPUS:85126356791
SN - 1046-1310
JO - Current Psychology
JF - Current Psychology
ER -