Resilience, Hope, and Subjective Happiness Among the Turkish Population: Fear of COVID-19 as a Mediator

Satici S. A., Kayis A. R., Satici B., Griffiths M. D., Can G.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11469-020-00443-5
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Keywords: COVID-19, Subjective happiness, Resilience, Hope, Fear of COVID-19, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, PROMOTING RESILIENCE, COPING STRATEGIES, COLLEGE-STUDENTS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, INTERVENTION, HEALTH, LIFE, VULNERABILITY, ADOLESCENTS
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Psychology deals with not only mental disorders but also psychological strengths within individuals. Psychological strengths will play an important role in struggling with the global novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study tested a model concerning the relationship between resilience, hope, and subjective happiness using structural equation modeling to identify the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 971 Turkish individuals (aged 18 to 74 years) from 75 of 81 cities in Turkey. The survey included the Subjective Happiness Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and the Dispositional Hope Scale, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM demonstrated an association between resilience-hope and subjective happiness was mediated by fear of COVID-19 (CMIN/df = 2.664, CFI = 0.994, NFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.984, GFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.044, SRMR = 0.024, AIC = 81.334, ECVI = 0.084). Resilience had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Hope also had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Consequently, in the fight against COVID-19, individuals who are resistant to stress and have a belief that they can find a way to cope can help prevent the fear of COVID-19 and so enhance good mental health.