The relationship between individual, social and national coping resources and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has a potential negative impact on mental health. Adopting the salutogenic model of health, this study examined the predictive value of personal (sense of coherence), social (social support, trust in institutions), and national (sense of national coherence) resources for mental health in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.Participants and procedureAn online survey was administered in the Netherlands (N = 622) in April 2020. A multiple regression analysis was performed to test the predictive value of the resources for mental health.ResultsMental health was significantly predicted by the sense of coherence, social support and sense of national co-herence, but not by trust in institutions. The results showed that personal and social resources were most strongly related to mental health.ConclusionsThe results suggest that mental health is predicted by various resources. Hence, strengthening resources seems vital in promoting mental health in times of crisis.