Meaning-Centered Coping in the Era of COVID-19: Direct and Moderating Effects on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Eisenbeck, Nikolett; Carreno, David F.; Pérez-Escobar, José Antonio

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648383

Cited by 48 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 72 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, our findings are consistent with this theory on meaning-centered coping mediating the negative influence of psychological distress on perceived physical health. Our results are also in accordance with other studies, which indicate that during adverse life events meaning-centered coping can integrate cognitive, emotional, behavioral, personal and interpersonal elements that could influence subjective well-being with a sequential positive impact on the perception of physical health despite the presence of psychological distress (Wong, 2012;Van Tongeren et al, 2016;Eisenbeck et al, 2021;Jans-Beken and Wong, 2021). In light of this, coping strategies aimed to promote and sustain meaning in life definitely require more attention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…We used the meaning-centered coping scale (MCCS) recently developed by Eisenbeck et al (2021) to measure meaning-centered coping during the current pandemic. Items describe coping strategies such as positive reframing, maintaining life appreciation and hope, adopting a courageous attitude against adversity, and being involved in prosocial and meaningful activities.…”

Section: Well-being Perceived Physical Health and Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How Having a Clear Why Can Help Us Cope With Almost Anything: Meaningful Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic in México

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in an increase in known risk factors for mental health problems. Mexico adopted lockdown and physical distancing as a containment strategy with potential consequences on day to day life, such as social isolation, loss of income and loneliness that can have important consequences in terms of mental health.Objective: We aimed to examine the effect of the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress, well-being and perceived physical health among Mexican-base respondents and to examine whether coping strategies would play a potential intermediating role in relation to these variables. Under the Existential Positive Psychology perspective, an emphasis was made on meaning-centered coping.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 30 and June 16th 2020 among 604 Mexicans-base respondents of which 471 were women and 132 men. Data was collected by using online questionnaires. Psychological distress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The Brief COPE Inventory was used to assess problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. We also used the Meaning-Centered Coping Scale (MCCS). PERMA-Profiler was used to assess well-being, perceived physical health, and loneliness. Profiler and Descriptive analyses and bivariate linear regression were performed to examine the association of variables.Results: 45.9% of the participants reported moderate to extremely severe psychological distress. Our results demonstrate that problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were positively related to psychological distress, whereas meaning-centered coping was negatively associated with distress. Furthermore, psychological distress played a potential negative role in the perceived physical health, while meaning-centered coping and well-being buffered the negative influence of psychological distress on perceived physical health (completely standardized indirect effect = –0.01, SE: 0.012, 95% CI [−0.065; −0.017].Conclusion: Meaning-centered coping was found to suppress the negative influence of psychological distress on sensation of decreased physical health corroborating the critical role of meaning in life in promoting well-being. Future studies can further examine the value of the critical role of meaning in life in promoting well-being as a protective factor against severe distress during traumatic events. Findings of this study can be used to orient policies and interventions aimed to alleviate suffering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Well-being Perceived Physical Health and Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Having a Clear Why Can Help Us Cope With Almost Anything: Meaningful Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic in México

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This harmony-based happiness can be achieved by mental toughness, responsibility (toward oneself and others), life appreciation, mindfulness, meaning in life, and the belief in a better future, which can be cultivated regardless of personal circumstances . In an ongoing international project, we have observed that such strategies play a central role in effective coping with the COVID-19 pandemic (Eisenbeck et al, 2021). Mature happiness can be considered as the mental state by-product of this dialectic way of coping with life demands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inner Harmony as an Essential Facet of Well-Being: A Multinational Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to explore the role of two models of well-being in the prediction of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely PERMA and mature happiness. According to PERMA, well-being is mainly composed of five elements: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning in life, and achievement. Instead, mature happiness is understood as a positive mental state characterized by inner harmony, calmness, acceptance, contentment, and satisfaction with life. Rooted in existential positive psychology, this harmony-based happiness represents the result of living in balance between positive and negative aspects of one's life. We hypothesized that mature happiness would be a more prominent protective factor during the present pandemic than the PERMA composite. A total of 12,203 participants from 30 countries responded to an online survey including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the PERMA-Profiler, and the Mature Happiness Scale-Revised (MHS-R). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that PERMA and mature happiness were highly correlated, but nonetheless, they represented two separate factors. After controlling for demographic factors and country-level variables, both PERMA Well-being and MHS-R were negative predictors of psychological distress. Mature happiness was a better predictor of stress, anxiety, and general distress, while PERMA showed a higher prediction of depression. Mature happiness moderated the relation between the perceived noxious effects of the pandemic and all markers of distress (depression, anxiety, stress, and total DASS-21). Instead, PERMA acted as a moderator in the case of depression and stress. These findings indicate that inner harmony, according to the mature happiness theory, is an essential facet of well-being to be taken into consideration. The results of this study can also orient policies aimed to alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic on mental health through the promotion of well-being.

show abstract

“…In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is of utmost importance to identify psychological strengths that can help individuals overcome depression, stress, and anxiety and maintain well-being. Researchers have confirmed that meaning in life (Arslan et al, 2020a;Carreno et al, 2021;Eisenbeck et al, 2021), hope , positivity (Yıldırım and Güler, 2021), and self-efficacy (Yıldırım and Güler, 2020) positively influence mental health and well-being. They also identified two variables that cover dynamics in coping with adverse situations and relate to mental health and well-being.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Mental Health, Well-Being, and Psychological Flexibility in the Stressful Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigated the relationships between selected emotional aspects of mental ill-health (depression, anxiety, and stress, DASS) and mental well-health (well-being) experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical model of the study was based on Martin Seligman’s positive psychology and PERMA theory and Paul Wong’s Existential Positive Psychology 2.0 Theory, which postulates that negative experiences contribute to well-being and personal growth. The static approach was complemented by exploring the mediating role of psychological flexibility (defined as acceptance and action in the current situation) in the relationship between negative emotions and well-being. The data were collected during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic from 277 participants (221 women), aged M = 33.83, SD = 12.77. The results confirmed that negative emotions correlated negatively with various domains of well-being (PERM), except for accomplishment (completing tasks and fulfill daily responsibilities). Moreover, negative emotions were related to the general well-being through psychological flexibility in that higher depression, anxiety, and stress were associated with lower psychological flexibility, which decreased general well-being. Finally, negative emotions were shown to be beneficial, having an adaptive effect that allows individuals to maintain their ability to cope with the situation, reach goals, and fulfill daily duties and responsibilities despite critical, stressful situation (like the COVID-19 pandemic) that limit their psychological flexibility. This observation confirmed the positive potential of negative aspects of life postulated within Existential Positive Psychology.

show abstract

Meaning-Centered Coping in the Era of COVID-19: Direct and Moderating Effects on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Cited by 48 publications

References 72 publications

How Having a Clear Why Can Help Us Cope With Almost Anything: Meaningful Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic in México

How Having a Clear Why Can Help Us Cope With Almost Anything: Meaningful Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic in México

Inner Harmony as an Essential Facet of Well-Being: A Multinational Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental Health, Well-Being, and Psychological Flexibility in the Stressful Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About