Social support, psychological flexibility and coping mediate the association between COVID-19 related stress exposure and psychological distress

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to an increase in psychological distress. However, protective factors such as social support, psychological flexibility, and coping mechanisms can help individuals cope with the effects of psychological distress. This study aimed to test a recent hypothesis suggesting that psychological flexibility is not necessarily a coping strategy but a mechanism that can influence the coping strategies an individual employs during stressful events. We tested a mediation model that COVID-19 concerns would contribute to higher levels of perceived social support, which would directly increase psychological flexibility, and finally test if the effect of psychological flexibility on distress was mediated by approach and avoidant coping strategies. The results show that social support facilitates higher levels of psychological flexibility. Further, that psychological flexibility indirectly reduces psychological distress by reducing avoidant coping and increasing approach coping strategies. Within the context of COVID-19, we have shown the importance of social support and psychological flexibility for reducing distress. We have provided further evidence that psychological flexibility might not be a coping mechanism but a strategy that leads individuals to engage in more approach coping strategies and fewer avoidant coping strategies.

Trajectories of resilience and mental distress to global major disruptions

“…Self-report measures of these were identified as (partly) predictive during the pandemic [ 37 , 45 , 75 ]. Longitudinal studies examining the mediating role of regulatory flexibility and positive appraisal style for other resilience factors are missing, although psychological flexibility and positive appraisal style were found to mediate the relationship between social support and resilient outcomes cross-sectionally [ 96 , 97 ].…”

“…Based on the concept of assessing resilience mechanisms as adaptive cognitive processes [ 1 ] the method of assessment may also be important. Most studies provided evidence for the mediating effect of potential resilience mechanisms using self-report measures [ 96 , 97 ]. However, the assessment of adaptative cognitive processes and their changes over time should also include (ideally with high frequency) assessments of these processes using sufficiently reliable cognitive tests and paradigms.…”

Resilience and Wellbeing Strategies for Pandemic Fatigue in Times of Covid-19

“…In terms of approach coping strategies (e.g., positive reframing, active coping, acceptance, planning, etc. ), the only strategies found to be associated with higher psychological flexibility were characterized by acceptance and positive framing (Rueda & Valls, 2020;Tindle et al, 2022). To implement these strategies, one can distancing themselves from potential negative outcomes related to COVID-19 in the future by grounding oneself in the present (White et al, 2019).…”

“…Then accepting and tolerating negative feelings related with COVID-19 challenges becomes easier. Such strategies reinforce values-based behaviour despite adverse circumstances (Tindle et al, 2022). Practicing these strategies leave little room for avoidant coping (e.g., venting, self-blame, denial, etc.).…”

A Study of Adult Attitudes toward Online and Face-to-Face Counseling according to Self-Concealment, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support and Certain Demographic Variables during Covid 19 Pandemic

“…It is thought that meeting basic social needs such as love, compassion, belonging to a group, and self-esteem are important factors for individuals to cope with the difficulties of life. In other words, it is known that social support positively affects both physiological and psychological health, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic period (Kaya et al, 2021;Tindle et al, 2022). Despite their strong social support network, people may sometimes need help from a mental health professional rather than their social circle.…”