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Post-Traumatic Growth and Stress-Related Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a National Representative Sample: The Role of Positive Core Beliefs About the World and Others

Author

Listed:
  • Carmelo Vazquez

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Carmen Valiente

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Felipe E. García

    (Universidad Santo Tomás
    Universidad de Concepción)

  • Alba Contreras

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Vanesa Peinado

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Almudena Trucharte

    (Complutense University of Madrid)

  • Richard P. Bentall

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

Given the need to understand both the negative and positive psychological consequences of the current global COVID-19 pandemic (Brewin et al. in Perspectives in Public Health https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920957365 2020), the aim of this study was to test a cognitive model of post-traumatic symptoms (PTS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) during confinement caused by the SARS-COV-2 epidemic. In line with cognitive models of trauma elaboration (Park in Psychological Bulletin https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018301 ), we included in our model some beliefs associated to the world (e.g., primal beliefs about a good world), to the self (e.g., death anxiety or orientation toward the future) and to others (e.g., suspiciousness or identification with humanity). To evaluate the explanatory model, a national representative sample of adults between the ages of 18 and 75 (N = 1951) was surveyed between 7th and 13th April, 2020, in the middle of a strict 7-week national confinement. Structural equation modelling yielded a very similar model to the one initially specified. The results highlight the role of both negative and positive core beliefs, which are pertinent to the current pandemic threat, in the appearance of PTS and PTG, respectively. In short, primal beliefs about a good world, openness to the future and identification with humanity were associated with PTG; while suspiciousness, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety about death and also identification with humanity were associated with PTS and consequent impairment. This is an innovative study of different pathways to traumatic responses and growth during a pandemic. Future research is needed to replicate its findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmelo Vazquez & Carmen Valiente & Felipe E. García & Alba Contreras & Vanesa Peinado & Almudena Trucharte & Richard P. Bentall, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Growth and Stress-Related Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a National Representative Sample: The Role of Positive Core Beliefs About the World and Others," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 2915-2935, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-020-00352-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00352-3
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    1. Cristiano Codagnone & Francesco Bogliacino & Camilo Gómez & Rafael Charris & Felipe Montealegre & Giovanni Liva & Francisco Lupiáñez-Villanueva & Frans Folkvord & Giuseppe A Veltri, 2020. "Assessing concerns for the economic consequence of the COVID-19 response and mental health problems associated with economic vulnerability and negative economic shock in Italy, Spain, and the United K," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, October.
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    2. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster & Irina Zrnić Novaković & Annett Lotzin, 2022. "Two Years of COVID-19 in Austria—Exploratory Longitudinal Study of Mental Health Outcomes and Coping Behaviors in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Na, Peter J. & Tsai, Jack & Southwick, Steven M. & Pietrzak, Robert H., 2021. "Factors associated with post-traumatic growth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a national sample of U.S. military veterans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
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    6. Sagrario Segado & Eva Sotomayor & Javier Páez Gallego, 2023. "Relative Immunity: COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on the Emotional State, Economy, Leisure, and Socialization of Young People in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Alexandra Sandu & Chris Taylor & Jennifer May Hampton, 2024. "Children’s Subjective Well-Being During the Coronavirus Pandemic," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(1), pages 309-347, February.
    8. Cátia Branquinho & Anabela Caetano Santos & Catarina Noronha & Lúcia Ramiro & Margarida Gaspar Matos, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic and the Second Lockdown: The 3rd Wave of the Disease Through the Voice of Youth," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(1), pages 199-216, February.
    9. Piotr Skórka & Beata Grzywacz & Dawid Moroń & Magdalena Lenda, 2022. "COVID-19 in Memes: The Adaptive Response of Societies to the Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-24, October.
    10. Marco Castiglioni & Cristina Liviana Caldiroli & Rossella Procaccia & Federica Conte & Robert A. Neimeyer & Claudia Zamin & Anna Paladino & Attà Negri, 2023. "The Up-Side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Core Belief Violation and Meaning Making Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Kailin Cheng & Jiangqun Liao, 2023. "Coping with Coronavirus Pandemic: Risk Perception Predicts Life Optimism," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 351-371, January.
    12. Natale Canale & Claudia Marino & Michela Lenzi & Alessio Vieno & Mark D. Griffiths & Marta Gaboardi & Matteo Giraldo & Carmen Cervone & Santinello Massimo, 2022. "How Communication Technology Fosters Individual and Social Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Support For a Digital Interaction Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 727-745, February.
    13. Grzegorz Józef Nowicki & Barbara Ślusarska & Bożena Zboina & Aneta Jędrzejewska & Marzena Kotus, 2022. "Factors Predicting Post-Traumatic Positive and Negative Psychological Changes Experienced by Nurses during a Pandemic COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    14. Alan C. Logan & Susan H. Berman & Richard B. Scott & Brian M. Berman & Susan L. Prescott, 2021. "Catalyst Twenty-Twenty: Post-Traumatic Growth at Scales of Person, Place and Planet," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, March.

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