Abstract
Research highlights several risk and resilience factors at multiple ecological levels that influence individuals’ mental health and wellbeing in their everyday lives and, more specifically, in disaster or outbreak situations. However, there is limited research on the role of these factors in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. The present study examined if and how potential risk factors (i.e., reduction in income, job insecurity, feelings of vulnerability to contracting the virus, lack of confidence in avoiding COVID-19, compliance with preventative policies) and resilience factors (i.e., trait resilience, family functioning, social support, social participation, and trust in healthcare institutions) are associated with mental health and well-being outcomes, and whether these resilience factors buffer (i.e., moderate) the associations between risk factors and said outcomes. One to two weeks after the government recommended preventative measures, 1,122 Canadian workers completed an online questionnaire, including multiple wellbeing outcome scales in addition to measures of potential risk and resilience factors. Structural equation models were tested, highlighting that overall, the considered risk factors were associated with poorer wellbeing outcomes, except social distancing which was associated with lower levels of stress. Each of the potential resilience factors was found to have a main effect on one or more of the wellbeing outcomes. Moderation analysis indicated that in general these resilience factors did not, however, buffer the risk factors. The findings confirm that the COVID-19 crisis encompasses several stressors related to the virus as well as to its impact on one’s social, occupational, and financial situation, which put people at risk for lower wellbeing as early as one to two weeks after the crisis began. While several resilience factors emerged as positively related to wellbeing, such factors may not be enough, or sufficiently activated at that time, to buffer the effects of the numerous life changes required by COVID-19. From an ecological perspective, while mental health professionals and public health decision-makers should offer/design services directly focused on mental health and wellbeing, it is important they go beyond celebrating individuals’ inner potential for resilience, and also support individuals in activating their environmental resources during a pandemic.
Highlights
The COVID-19 crisis has had, and continues to have, a serious impact on individuals throughout the world (Brooks et al, 2020; Xiao et al, 2020)
Auxiliary variables correlated with job insecurity and/or social participation variables and missingness on these variables were included in the analysis as recommended by Enders (2010)
These auxiliary variables included measures focused on feelings over the last week (McGregor et al, 2001), items from an additional scale of general job security (Kraimer et al, 2005), a variable indicating that one has lost their job temporarily or permanently due to the COVID19 crisis, and two items focused on financial and occupational wellbeing (Prilleltensky et al, 2015)
Summary
The COVID-19 crisis has had, and continues to have, a serious impact on individuals throughout the world (Brooks et al, 2020; Xiao et al, 2020). As a result of the pandemic, individuals are facing continuous changes in various aspects of their lives, such as health, employment, and family life (Gangopadhyaya and Garrett, 2020; Xiao et al, 2020). This accumulation of multiple sources of stress could increase feelings of psychological distress and decrease feelings of wellbeing for many individuals. As an important, yet still understudied component of wellbeing, meaning in life refers to “the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they perceive themselves to have a purpose, mission, or overarching aim in life” (Steger et al, 2009, p. 43)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
