Being Hopeful and Mindful During Adversity: A Longitudinal Study on College Students’ Adjustment During COVID-19

Abstract

Objectives The current study examined whether hope and mindfulness were associated with changes in two maladjustment measures, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, during the COVID-19 pandemic and tested sense of coherence as a mediator. The salutogenic theory of health, which posits that sense of coherence is central to individuals’ well-being in stressful situations and that individuals derive their sense of coherence from their generalized resistance resources (GRRs), was used to guide the analyses. Methods On two occasions separated by about 6 months, 253 Hong Kong college students (mean age = 21.0 years at time 1; 86% of them were women) filled in online questionnaires during the COVID-19 outbreaks. Path analysis was conducted to examine the interrelationships among hope and mindfulness, sense of coherence, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Results Results indicated that hope and mindfulness at time 1 were associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviors at time 2, even after controlling for confounding variables and prior levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Moreover, sense of coherence at time 1 significantly mediated these associations. Conclusions Findings pointed to the potential roles of hope, mindfulness, and sense of coherence in understanding Chinese college students’ adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research is needed to test whether sense of coherence and behavioral adjustment can be promoted through hope- and mindfulness-based intervention programs. Future research is also needed to examine the interrelationships among health-promoting assets, sense of coherence, and individual adjustment in samples of diverse cultural backgrounds.

Leveraging technology for pre‐service teachers' well‐being: The effectiveness of a multicomponent positive psychology intervention in pre‐service preschool teachers in Hong Kong

“…Therefore, the present research investigated how delivering PROSPER‐based interventions via a few technological platforms (e.g., online workshops, smartphone app use, and a combination of those media) can influence well‐being outcomes. As studies have shown that technologically facilitated well‐being interventions such as online workshops with a combination of self‐reflective and interactive activities (Datu et al, 2022), online writing and journaling interventions (Heekerens et al, 2022), and smartphone well‐being apps (Sun et al, 2022) can promote a wide range of positive psychological outcomes, we assessed which mode of intervention delivery might yield stronger impacts on well‐being. Given that having a variety of activities might strengthen the effects of positive psychological interventions (Lyubomirsky & Layous, 2013), we conjectured that combining modes of online workshops supplemented by a smartphone app in the PROSPER‐based intervention framework would enhance pre‐service teachers' psychological outcomes.…”

Reciprocal longitudinal relations between self‐efficacy and coping style: The explanatory mechanism of future self‐continuity

“…Studies have found that higher hope is associated with adaptive behaviors and better outcomes (Bernardo & Sit, 2020; Shanahan et al, 2020; Snyder, 2002). For university students, their level of hope is positively associated with their mental health, resilience, and adjustment (Genç & Arslan, 2021; Rachael, 2020; Sun et al, 2022). Because people with high hopes see things as manageable and meaningful, they may be better able to adjust, especially in the face of adversity.…”

Gender differences in sense of coherence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

“…Darling et al demonstrated that SoC was positively correlated with emotional health and quality of life and inversely correlated with stress from friendships and family issues among university students with distinct gender differences in the associations ( Darling et al , 2007 ). A recent study from China demonstrated that students with higher levels of SoC from a public university had significantly improved resilience against conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and emotional problems during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Sun et al , 2022 ).…”