What can we learn from gritty persons? Coping strategies adopted during COVID-19 lockdown

Marek Urban, Kamila Urban

Abstract


Social isolation and the loss of control associated with the COVID-19 lockdown led to elevated levels of perceived stress in many countries. The present study examines the effectiveness of 13 different coping strategies (SVF-78) and the personality trait grit (Grit-S) on perceptions of stress (PSS-10) in 438 participants (362 women, Mage = 33.45 years, SD = 12.48) from the second to third week of lockdown. A structural equation model showed that coping strategies acted as a complete mediator of the relationship between grit and perceived stress, indicating that grit does not directly affect perceived stress but that people with higher levels of grit choose more effective coping strategies and that results in lower perceived stress. Overall, active emotion-focused strategies such as minimization and positive self-instruction were associated with lower levels of helplessness and a higher self-efficacy to cope with stress. Taking into account the different ways participants adopted coping strategies and relied upon grit, non-hierarchical clustering identified four specific profiles: gritty persons, easy-goers, avoiders, and people feeling powerless. The implications for each group are discussed.

Keywords


Perceived stress; coping strategies; grit; quarantine; COVID-19.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ammar, A., Trabelsi, K., Brach, M., Chtourou, H., Boukhris, O., Masmoudi, L., Bouaziz, B., Bentlage, E., How, D., Ahmed, M., Mueller, P., Mueller, N., Aloui, A., Hammouda, O., Paineiras-Domingos, L. L., Braakman-jansen, A., Wrede, C., Bastoni, S., Pernambuco, C. S., …, Hoekelmann, A. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 home confinement on eating behaviour and physical activity: Results of the ECLB-COVID19 international online survey. Nutrients, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061583

Bannink, F. P. (2008). Posttraumatic Success: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 8(3), 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhn013

Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173

Brabcova, D., & Kohout, J. Psychometric validation of the Czech version of the Perceived Stress Scale. E-psychology, 12(1), 37-52.

Burtscher, J., Burtscher, M., & Millet, G. P. (2020). (Indoor) isolation, stress and physical inactivity: vicious circles accelerated by Covid-19? Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/SMS.13706

Casagrande, M., Favieri, F., Tambelli, R., & Forte, G. (2020). The enemy who sealed the world: Effects quarantine due to the COVID-19 on sleep quality, anxiety, and psychological distress in the Italian population. Sleep Medicine, 75, 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.05.011

Chatterjee, K., & Chauhan, V. S. (2020). Editorial: Epidemics, quarantine and mental health. Medical Journal Armed Forces India, 76(2), 125-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mjafi.2020.03.017

Chew, Q. H., Wei, K. C., Vasoo, S., Chua, H., C., & Sim, K. (2020). Narrative synthesis of psychological and coping responses towards emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the general population: practical considerations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore Medical Journal, 61(7), 350-356.

https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2020046

Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The social psychology of health: Claremont Symposium on Applied Social Psychology (p. 31-67). Sage Publications.

Credé, M., Tynan, M. C., & Harms, P. D. (2017). Much ado about grit: A meta-analytic synthesis of the grit literature. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 492-511. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000102

Curry, A. L., & Hammonds, K. H. (2014). The Power of Solutions Journalism. Solutions Journalism Network.

Di Giacomo, D. (2020). Public Health emergencies and quarantine: virtual patient engagement as challenge and opportunity for Mental Health strategy. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 8(2).

https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2533

Dörfel, D., Rabe, S., & Karl, A. (2008). Coping Strategies in Daily Life as Protective and Risk Factors for Post Traumatic Stress in Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors. Journal of Loss and Trauma: International Perspectives on Stress & Coping, 13(5), 422-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020701742136

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634290

Filgueiras, A., & Stults-Kolehmainen, M. (in press). The relationship between behavioural and psychosocial factors among Brazilians in quarantine due to Covid-19 (3/31/2020). Available at SSRN 2020: 3566245.

Hossain, M. M., Sultana, A., & Purohit, N. (2020). Mental health outcomes of quarantine and isolation for infection prevention: A systematic umbrella review of the global evidence. Epidemiology and Health, 42. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2020038

Horesh, N., Rolnick, T., Iancu, I., Dannon, P., Lepkifker, E., Apter, A., & Kotler. M. (1996). Coping styles and suicide risk. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 93(6), 489-493. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb10682.x

Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020). Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Research, 288, Article 112954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112954

Janke, W., & Erdmann, G. (2003). Strategie zvládání stresu - SVF 78 [Stress Coping Strategies – SVF 78]. Testcentrum.

Jarkovský, J., Skřivanová, K., Benešová, K., Šnajdrová, L., Gregor, J., Peterková, H., Bendová, M., Brančíková, D., Elfmarková, N., Svěrák, T., Anderková, Ľ., Minář, L., Protivánková, M., Nedvěd, J., Dušek, L., & Temoshok, L. (2017). Predictors of quality of life in Czech female breast cancer survivors following treatment with special interest to coping strategies. Vnitrni Lekarstvi, 63(6), 389-396.

Kelly, M. M., Tyrka, A.R., Price, L. H., & Carpenter, L. L. (2008). Sex differences in the use of coping strategies: predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Depression and Anxiety, 25(10), 839-46. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20341

Kropacova, S., Slezackova, A. & Jarden, A. (2018). Grit Scale: psychometric analysis of the Czech adaptation for adult population. E-psychology, 12(2), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.29364/epsy.318

Larzelere, M. M., & Jones, G. N. (2008). Stress and Health. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 35(4), 839–856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2008.07.011

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer.

Lee, W. W. S. (2017). Relationships among grit, academic performance, perceived academic failure, and stress in associate degree students. Journal of Adolescence, 60, 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.08.006

López-Vázquez, E., & Marván, M. L. (2003). Risk perception, stress and coping strategies in two catastrophe risk situations. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 31(1), 61-70.

https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2003.31.1.61

Mazza, C., Ricci, E., Biondi, S., Colasanti, M., Ferracuti, S., Napoli, C., & Roma, P. (2020). A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, Article 3165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093165

McEwen, B. S. (2005). Stressed or stressed out: What is the difference? Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 30(5), 315-318.

McEwen, B. S., & Wingfield, J. C. (2003). The Concept of Allostasis in Biology and Biomedicine. Hormones and Behavior, 43(1), 2-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0018-506X(02)00024-7

McIntyre, K. (2017). Solutions Journalism. Journalism Practice, 13(1), 16-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2017.1409647

McIntyre, K., & Sobel, M. (2017). Motivating News Audiences: Shock Them or Provide Them with Solutions? Communication & Society, 30(1), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.15581/003.30.1.39-56

Meléndez, J., Mayordomo, T., Sancho, P., & Tomás, J. (2012). Coping Strategies: Gender Differences and Development throughout Life Span. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 15(3), 1089-1098.

https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n3.39399

Mustafa, N. (2020). Psychological stress and associated factors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). International Journal of Science and Research, 10(4), 12-18. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21652.24969

Natovová, L., & Chýlová, H. (2012). Coping strategies adopted by university students – part II: role of conflict and age. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 5(4), 226-238. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2012.050405

O’Neal, C. R., Espino, M. M., Goldthrite, A., Morin, M. F., Weston, L., Hernandez, P., & Fuhrmann, A. (2016). Grit Under Duress: Stress, Strengths, and Academic Success Among Non-Citizen and Citizen Latina/o First-Generation College Students. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 38(4), 446-466.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986316660775

Ozamiz-Etxebarria, N., Dosil-Santamaria, M., Picaza-Gorrochategui, M., & Idoiaga-Mondragon, N. (2020). Stress, anxiety, and depression levels in the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in a population sample in the northern Spain. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 36(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00054020

Polizzi, C., Lynn, S. J., & Perry, A. (2020). Stress and Coping in the Time of COVID-19: Pathways to Resilience and Recovery. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 17(2), 59-62. https://doi.org/10.36131/CN20200204

Röhr, S., Müller, F., Jung, F., Apfelbacher, C., Seidler, A., Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2020). Psychosoziale Folgen von Quarantänemaßnahmen bei schwerwiegenden Coronavirus-Ausbrüchen: ein Rapid Review [Psychosocial Impact of Quarantine Measures During Serious Coronavirus Outbreaks: A Rapid Review]. Psychiatrische Praxis, 47, 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1159-5562

Ruggiero, G. M., Levi, D., Ciuna, A., & Sassaroli, S. (2003). Stress situation reveals an association between perfectionism and drive for thinness. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 34(2), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10191

Selye, H. (1976). Stress in health and disease. Butterworths.

Settineri, S., & Merlo, E. M. (2020a). Commentary: A Contagious Other? Exploring the Public’s Appraisals of Contact with “Mental Illness”. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2412

Settineri, S., & Merlo, E. M. (2020b). Editorial: Fear of Contamination. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2424

Silvia, P. J., Eddington, K. M., Beaty, R. E., Nusbaum, E. C., & Kwapil, T. R. (2013). Gritty people try harder: Grit and effort-related cardiac autonomic activity during an active coping challenge. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88(2), 200-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.04.007

Taylor, S., Landry, C., Paluszek, M., Fergus, T. A., McKay, D., Asmundson, G. J. G. (2020). Development and Initial Validation of the COVID Stress Scales. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 72, Article 102232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102232

Vicario-Merino, A. & Muñoz-Agustin, N. (2020). Analysis of the Stress, Anxiety and Healthy Habits in the Spanish COVID-19 Confinement. Health Science Journal, 14(2), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.36648/1791-809X.14.2.707

Vinkers, C. H., van Amelsvoort, T., Bisson, J. I., Branchi, I., Cryan, J. F., Domschke, K., Manchia, M., Pinto, L., de Quervain, D., Schmidt, M. V., & van der Wee, N. (2020). Stress resilience during the coronavirus pandemic. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 35, 12-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.05.003

Walsh, D., & Foster, J. (2020). A Contagious Other? Exploring the Public’s Appraisals of Contact with ‘Mental Illness’. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062005

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020a). Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, Article 1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., McIntyre, R.S., Choo, F.N., Tran, B., Ho, R., Sharma, V.K., & Ho, C. (2020b). A Longitudinal Study on the Mental Health of General Population during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.028

Weyers, P., Ising, M., Reuter, M., & Janke, W. (2005). Comparing two approaches for the assessment of coping: Part I. Psychometric properties and intercorrelations. Journal of Individual Differences, 26(4), 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001.26.4.207

Wong, M. L., Anderson, J., Knorr, T., Joseph, J. W. & Sanchez, L. D. (2018). Grit, anxiety, and stress in emergency physicians. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 36(6), 1036-1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2018.02.021

World Health Organization. (2020). Considerations for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19): interim guidance, 19 March 2020 (WHO/2019-nCoV/IHR_Quarantine/2020.2). World Health Organization.

Zhang, M. X., Mou, N. L., Tong, K. K., & Wu, A. M. S. (2018). Investigation of the Effects of Purpose in Life, Grit, Gratitude, and School Belonging on Mental Distress among Chinese Emerging Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), Article 2147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102147




DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2518

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.