Can Personality Traits Predict Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

The emotional costs of the COVID-19 pandemic have raised concerns among clinicians and scholars. The goal of the current study was to test whether or not neuroticism, conscientiousness, and personal belief in a just world are associated with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the contribution of neuroticism and conscientiousness was assessed over and above demographic variables and COVID-19 perceptions, and the unique contribution of personal belief in a just world was evaluated beyond all the other study variables. Samples were collected in three different countries—Israel ( N = 917), Germany ( N = 213), and India ( N = 160). Online self-report questionnaires were utilized to measure age, gender, COVID-19 perceptions (probability, severity, and self-efficacy), neuroticism, conscientiousness, personal belief in a just world, and depression. The findings indicated that, across the three countries, neuroticism was positively associated with depression (correlations ranging from .24 to .44), and conscientiousness and personal belief in a just world were negatively associated with depression (correlations ranging from − .31 to − .21, and from − .35 to − .23, respectively). Moreover, neuroticism and conscientiousness explained unique variance over and above demographic variables and COVID-19 perceptions (except conscientiousness in India), and the effect of personal belief in a just world on depression was significant beyond the effects of all other study variables. These findings support the role of personality in explaining depression regardless of situational characteristics and stress the role of just world beliefs as protective factors against negative emotions.

The role of healthy emotionality in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health problems: a cross-sectional study

“…The study’s findings provide further support for the role of neuroticism, which can be associated with mental health problems (Norton & Paulus, 2017 ). Additionally, consistent with recent studies (Nudelman et al, 2021 ; Modersitzki et al, 2020 ), the present study’s findings indicated that neuroticism was one of the risk factors associated with the mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, healthy emotionality may play a buffering role against the fear of the effect of COVID-19 on mental health problems.…”

The Relation between Neuroticism and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior among College Students: Multiple Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Depression

“…We found that neuroticism could significantly negatively predict ER strategies and positively predict depression and NSSI behavior, which is consistent with the findings of Nudelman et al [ 31 ] and Shukla et al [ 32 ]. High neuroticism and self-awareness means emotional instability and poor emotional regulation, which is related to a high level of depression and anxiety.…”

The relationship between just world belief and wellbeing, cheating behaviors, and academic work behaviors during COVID 19 among university students

“…In this study, PBJW protected university students' life satisfaction and strengthened their justice-related university work behaviors. The current evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic 43 and results from other studies 3 , 30 , 122 , 123 support the robustness of belief in a just world.…”

“…Based on empirical findings 43 , PBJW could reduce the risk of stress-induced negative emotions and the development of depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increase well-being.…”