Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

An international study on psychological coping during COVID-19: Towards a meaning-centered coping style

Original title: Estudio internacional sobre afrontamiento psicológico durante el COVID-19: Hacia un afrontamiento centrado en el sentido
  • Nikolett Eisenbeck
    ,
  • David F. Carreno
    ,
  • Paul T.P. Wong
    ,
  • Joshua A. Hicks
    ,
  • Ruíz Ruano García María
    ,
  • Jorge L. Puga
  • University of Seville
    ,
  • University of Almeria
    ,
  • Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute Inc.
    ,
  • Texas A&M University
    ,
  • University of Granada
    ,
  • University of South Wales
Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Publication metrics

Metrics

SciVal
Citations
87
Scopus
Citations
SciVal
FWCI
8.11
SciVal
Author count
44
SciVal
Paper percentile
99
SciVal
Top percentile
1

Abstract

Background/Objective
This study examined the role of different psychological coping mechanisms in mental and physical health during the initial phases of the COVID-19 crisis with an emphasis on meaning-centered coping.

Method
A total of 11,227 people from 30 countries across all continents participated in the study and completed measures of psychological distress (depression, stress, and anxiety), loneliness, well-being, and physical health, together with measures of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, and a measure called the Meaning-centered Coping Scale (MCCS) that was developed in the present study. Validation analyses of the MCCS were performed in all countries, and data were assessed by multilevel modeling (MLM).

Results
The MCCS showed a robust one-factor structure in 30 countries with good test-retest, concurrent and divergent validity results. MLM analyses showed mixed results regarding emotion and problem-focused coping strategies. However, the MCCS was the strongest positive predictor of physical and mental health among all coping strategies, independently of demographic characteristics and country-level variables.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that the MCCS is a valid measure to assess meaning-centered coping. The results also call for policies promoting effective coping to mitigate collective suffering during the pandemic.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
Peer-review

Original language

Spanish

Article number

100256

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 100256

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology (Volume 22, Issue 1)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/01/2022

Publication status

Published - 01/01/2022

ISSN

1697-2600

Publication IDs

  • Scopus: 85112644899
  • Scopus: 85112644899
  • PubMed: 34429729