The relationship between COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and meaning in life: testing the moderating effects of self-compassion and savoring

Meaning in life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: Impact of quality of life and sociodemographic factors

Research on meaning in life typically emphasizes the psychological aspects of quality of life, neglecting broader dimensions. Additionally, its relevance to the COVID-19 context remains limited. This study investigated the relationship of meaning in life with quality of life and sociodemographic factors related to COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A total of 4133 Brazilian adults completed Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-SRPB BREF, and sociodemographic information. Our results indicated a positive correlation between the presence of meaning and quality of life dimensions, with psychological health exhibiting the strongest relationship. We found a lower presence of meaning among individuals experiencing heightened social isolation, while vaccinated individuals exhibited a greater presence of meaning. Additionally, non-working participants reported lower presence and higher search for meaning than employed individuals, with frontline workers showing the highest search for meaning. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Savoring mediates the mental health benefits of positive coping processes: A prospective population-based analysis

Positive coping (e.g., self-efficacy and positive reappraisal) and savoring could bear mental health implications under large-scale disasters such as COVID-19. The integrative affect-regulation framework of psychological resilience proposes that evaluative efforts regulate affect, which then predicts positive short-term consequences and better mental health. This two-wave study was done during the prolonged, intensive COVID-19 control rules in Hong Kong and examined (1) the prospective associations of positive coping processes (i.e., self-efficacy and positive reappraisal) (T1, March-August 2021) with subsequent psychiatric symptoms (T2, September 2021-February 2022) and (2) the mediating effect of T2 savoring in the associations. Path analyses revealed that T1 self-efficacy and positive reappraisal were inversely related to T2 psychiatric symptoms. T2 savoring partially mediated the effect of T1 self-efficacy but fully mediated the effect of T1 positive reappraisal. Self-efficacy could have more sustainable direct positive associations with mental health, whereas the benefit of positive reappraisal might need to be catalyzed by savoring over time. Our study offered concrete illustrations of the conceptual tenets of the affect-regulation framework.

Self-Compassion as a Key Factor of Subjective Happiness and Psychological Well-Being among Greek Adults during COVID-19 Lockdowns

The present study examined the association and complementary effect of self-compassion on the subjective happiness and psychological well-being of adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was based on a concurrent correlational design to examine relationships between self-compassion, subjective happiness, psychological well-being, resilience, and the meaning in life. Data were collected via a battery of questionnaires and analyzed, focusing on the above variables. The sample of this study (N = 526) consisted of Greek professionals in education and university students. The results showed that there is a strong positive relationship between self-compassion and subjective happiness, and between self-compassion and psychological well-being. The findings suggest that an attitude of self-compassion may well influence the development of psychological well-being and increase the subjective happiness of adults during the distressing era of a long-term pandemic. The results also indicated a positive relationship between self-compassion and meaning in life and showed that self-compassion is a prerequisite for resilience, which in turn may serve as a moderator of psychological well-being and subjective happiness.

Self-Compassion and COVID-19 Stress in Turkish Healthcare Workers: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a time when both physical and mental health are affected. Due to the increased workload and crucial strains brought on by the pandemic, healthcare workers (HW) have been disproportionately affected by this period of time. Understanding the stress faced by HW, identifying the elements that impact stress, and making reinforcements in these areas are deemed critical in order to avoid disruption of health services and protect public health. The aim of this research is to measure the COVID-19 stress level in HW and to evaluate its relationship with self-compassion and psychological resilience. The study included 281 HW who volunteered to participate and actively served in pandemic services. The researchers used a sociodemographic information form, the Coronavirus Stress Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale in the study. The data were collected online, and analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS applications. In the second year of the pandemic, HW are still facing the burden of COVID-19. In our observations in this study, we see that COVID-19 stress has a negative relationship with self-compassion and resilience. Self-compassion and resilience account for 20% of COVID-19 stress variation. The connection between self-compassion and COVID-19 stress is partially mediated by resilience. It is important to develop these skills, as psychological resilience and self-compassion skills are effective in maintaining HW' mental health.

Improvements in Compassion and Fears of Compassion throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multinational Study

During large-scale disasters, social support, caring behaviours, and compassion are shown to protect against poor mental health outcomes. This multi-national study aimed to assess the fluctuations in compassion over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (Time 1 n = 4156, Time 2 n = 980, Time 3 n = 825) from 23 countries completed online self-report questionnaires measuring the flows of compassion (i.e., Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales) and fears of compassion toward self and others and from others (i.e., Fears of Compassion Scales) and mental health at three time-points during a 10-month period. The results for the flows of compassion showed that self-compassion increased at Time 3. Compassion for others increased at Time 2 and 3 for the general population, but in contrast, it decreased in health professionals, possibly linked to burnout. Compassion from others did not change in Time 2, but it did increase significantly in Time 3. For fears of compassion, fears of self-compassion reduced over time, fears of compassion for others showed more variation, reducing for the general public but increasing for health professionals, whilst fears of compassion from others did not change over time. Health professionals, those with compassion training, older adults, and women showed greater flows of compassion and lower fears of compassion compared with the general population, those without compassion training, younger adults, and men. These findings highlight that, in a period of shared suffering, people from multiple countries and nationalities show a cumulative improvement in compassion and reduction in fears of compassion, suggesting that, when there is intense suffering, people become more compassionate to self and others and less afraid of, and resistant to, compassion.

Self‐compassion and savouring buffer the impact of the first year of the COVID‐19 on PhD students' mental health

Doctoral students face many challenges that were reinforced by COVID-19-related lockdowns. We assessed this impact over 1 year on doctoral students' depression, anxiety, stress, well-being, and doctoral engagement. We also investigated the potential protective role of self-compassion and savouring on mental health, well-being, and doctoral engagement. A total of 134 PhD students from several French universities responded to the three-time points of this longitudinal study. The results showed a significant increase in depression, anxiety and stress and a significant decrease in well-being and doctoral engagement during the first year of the pandemic. Self-compassion and savouring predicted lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher levels of well-being over time. Savouring alone predicted higher doctoral engagement over time. This study reveals the significant impact of the pandemic year on the mental health of doctoral students, and the relevance of self-compassion and savouring as psychological resources to cope with adversity.

Cross-national measurement invariance of the Purpose in Life Test in seven Latin American countries

The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age (M = 41.8; SD = 16.6 years); while Ecuador has the lowest mean age (M = 24.6; SD = 7.8 years). Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion of women (>60%) than men (<40%). Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL (Meaning of existence, Freedom to make meaning in daily life and Will to find meaning in the face of future challenges) is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries.