The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Optimism, mindfulness, and resilience as potential protective factors for the mental health consequences of fear of the coronavirus
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a substantial impact on mental health. Prior reports have shown that depression, anxiety, and stress have increased throughout the pandemic. Nonetheless, not everyone is affected by these negative consequences and some people may be relatively unaffected. In this online study in a predominantly Dutch and Belgian sample (N = 546), we investigated whether positive personality traits such as optimism, mindfulness, and resilience may protect against the negative mental health consequences (i.e., fear of the coronavirus, depression, stress, and anxiety) of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that fear of COVID-19 was related to higher depression, stress, and anxiety. However, for participants scoring high on mindfulness, optimism, and resilience, this relationship was weakened. In addition to these findings, we present the results of network analyses to explore the network structure between these constructs. These results help to identify possible ways through which psychological well-being can be promoted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Moreover, trait mindfulness can also moderate the relationship between fear of the coronavirus and psychological distress (Vos et al., 2021).”
From The association between facets of mindfulness and COVID-19 related distress: A cross-sectional study (2023) · cites this paper as Vos et al., 2021
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“In addition, individual differences exist in the level of COVID-19 related concerns and therefore in the vulnerability to the psychosocial effects of the pandemic (Mertens, Gerritsen, et al., 2020; Taylor et al., 2021; Vos et al., 2021).”
From The association between facets of mindfulness and COVID-19 related distress: A cross-sectional study (2023) · cites this paper as Vos et al., 2021
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Controlling the False Discovery Rate: A Practical and Powerful Approach to Multiple Testing
Benjamini, Y., & Hochberg, Y. (1995) · Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B: Statistical Methodology · doi:10.1111/j.2517-6161.1995.tb02031.x · Cited by 109,482
The Psychological Impact of Quarantine and How to Reduce It: Rapid Review of the Evidence
Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020) · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3532534 · Cited by 16,394
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence
Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30460-8 · Cited by 16,378
Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-u · Cited by 14,523
Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.67.6.1063 · Cited by 7,456
Bonanno, G. A. (2004) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.59.1.20 · Cited by 6,851
The brief resilience scale: Assessing the ability to bounce back
Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1080/10705500802222972 · Cited by 6,439
Estimating psychological networks and their accuracy: A tutorial paper
Epskamp, S., Borsboom, D., & Fried, E. I. (2018) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/s13428-017-0862-1 · Cited by 5,715
Holmes, E. A., O'Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard, C., Christensen, H., Cohen Silver, R., Everall, I., et al. (2020) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30168-1 · Cited by 5,715
WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard
e, C. R. D. I. (2020) · Bangladesh Physiotherapy Journal · doi:10.46945/bpj.10.1.03.01 · Cited by 5,465
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., Walsh, E., Duggan, D., & Williams, J. M. G. (2008) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/1073191107313003 · Cited by 2,930
A tutorial on regularized partial correlation networks
Epskamp, S., & Fried, E. I. (2018) · Psychological Methods · doi:10.1037/met0000167 · Cited by 2,918
Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Segerstrom, S. C. (2010) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006 · Cited by 2,051
Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2013) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-119 · Cited by 1,996
Mazza, C., Ricci, E., Biondi, S., Colasanti, M., Ferracuti, S., Napoli, C., & Roma, P. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17093165 · Cited by 1,899
Fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19): Predictors in an online study conducted in March 2020
Mertens, G., Gerritsen, L., Duijndam, S., Salemink, E., & Engelhard, I. M. (2020) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102258 · Cited by 1,264
Self-citationExtended Bayesian Information Criteria for Gaussian Graphical ModelsPreprint
Foygel, R., & Drton, M. (2010) · Neural Information Processing Systems · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1011.6640 · Cited by 1,221
Development and initial validation of the COVID Stress Scales
Taylor, S., Landry, C. A., Paluszek, M. M., Fergus, T. A., McKay, D., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2020) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102232 · Cited by 1,169
A meta-analysis of the trait resilience and mental health
Hu, T., Zhang, D., & Wang, J. (2015) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.039 · Cited by 1,131 · cited 1×
“In particular, being resilient help individuals to cope with stressful experiences and reduces the negative mental health impact of exposure to traumatic life events (Hu et al., 2015).”
BackgroundMechanisms of mindfulness training: Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT
Lindsay, E. K., & Creswell, J. D. (2017) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.10.011 · Cited by 919 · cited 1×
“Being aware of one’s experiences and accepting negative thoughts and feelings is related to lower psychological distress during stressful life events (Lindsay and Creswell, 2017).”
BackgroundTzur Bitan, D., Grossman-Giron, A., Bloch, Y., Mayer, Y., Shiffman, N., & Mendlovic, S. (2020) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113100 · Cited by 553
Positive Affect and Psychobiological Processes Relevant to Health
Steptoe, A., Dockray, S., & Wardle, J. (2009) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00599.x · Cited by 520
Ran, L., Wang, W., Ai, M., Kong, Y., Chen, J., & Kuang, L. (2020) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113261 · Cited by 469
Positive expectancies and mental health: Identifying the unique contributions of hope and optimism
Gallagher, M. W., & Lopez, S. J. (2009) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760903157166 · Cited by 424
Conversano, C., Di Giuseppe, M., Miccoli, M., Ciacchini, R., Gemignani, A., & Orrù, G. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01900 · Cited by 259
Anxiety, pandemic‐related stress and resilience among physicians during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Mosheva, M., Hertz‐Palmor, N., Dorman-Ilan, S., Matalon, N., Pessach, I. M., Afek, A. B., Ziv, A., Kreiss, Y., Gross, R., & Gothelf, D. (2020) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.23085 · Cited by 219
Matiz, A., Fabbro, F., Paschetto, A., Cantone, D., Paolone, A. R., & Crescentini, C. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17186450 · Cited by 204
The future of mindfulness training is digital, and the future is now
Mrazek, A. J., Mrazek, M. D., Cherolini, C. M., Cloughesy, J. N., Cynman, D. J., Gougis, L. J., Landry, A. P., Reese, J. V., & Schooler, J. W. (2019) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.012 · Cited by 201
Zhang, J., Yang, Z., Wang, X., Li, J., Dong, L., Wang, F., Li, Y., Wei, R., & Zhang, J. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/jocn.15425 · Cited by 197
The impact of resilience and subsequent stressful life events on MDD and GAD
Sheerin, C. M., Lind, M. J., Brown, E. A., Gardner, C. O., Kendler, K. S., & Amstadter, A. B. (2017) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22700 · Cited by 147
Positive Psychology and the Internet: A Mental Health Opportunity
Mitchell, J., Vella‐Brodrick, D., & Klein, B. (2010) · E-Journal of Applied Psychology · doi:10.7790/ejap.v6i2.230 · Cited by 137
Gallagher, M. W., Lopez, S. J., & Pressman, S. D. (2012) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12026 · Cited by 130
The impact of COVID-19 on college anxiety, optimism, gratitude, and course satisfaction
Biber, D., Melton, B. F., & Czech, D. R. (2020) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448481.2020.1842424 · Cited by 105
Mertens, G., Duijndam, S., Smeets, T., & Lodder, P. (2021) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102415 · Cited by 78
Self-citationBergomi, C., Ströhle, G., Michalak, J., Funke, F., & Berking, M. (2013) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2012.713391 · Cited by 58
van Son, J., Nyklíček, I., Nefs, G., Speight, J., Pop, V. J., & Pouwer, F. (2015) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-014-9592-3 · Cited by 42
Self-citationValidation of a short form Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (TFMQ-SF) in pregnant women
Truijens, S. E. M., Nyklíček, I., van Son, J., & Pop, V. J. M. (2016) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.06.037 · Cited by 41
Self-citationNyklíček, I., Hoogwegt, F., & Westgeest, T. (2014) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.08.004 · Cited by 39
Self-citation
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Alimoradi, Z., Ohayon, M. M., Griffiths, M. D., Lin, C., & Pakpour, A. H. (2022) · BJPsych Open · doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.26 · Cited by 194
Hope and Optimism as an Opportunity to Improve the “Positive Mental Health” Demand
Laranjeira, C., & Querido, A. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.827320 · Cited by 87
Pellerin, N., Raufaste, É., Corman, M., Teissèdre, F., & Dambrun, M. (2022) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14572-5 · Cited by 76
Li, X., Yu, H., & Yang, N. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04336-y · Cited by 78
Han, S.-S., Zhang, Y.-S., Zhu, W., Ye, Y.-P., Li, Y.-X., Meng, S., Feng, S., Han, L., Cui, Z.-L., Zhang, Y., et al. (2025) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22443-7 · Cited by 78
Metadata
- Authors
- Vos, L. M. W., Habibović, M., Nyklíček, I., Smeets, T., & Mertens, G.
- Affiliations
- Tilburg University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Mertens, Gaëtan
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-06
- Volume
- 300
- Pages
- 113927
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9755114
- OpenAlex
- W3141266007
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 18
- FWCI
- 21.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Tilburg University Research Portal (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- optimism, mindfulness, resilience, COVID-19 pandemic, fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, stress, protective factors, mental health, personality traits, psychological well-being, network analysis
- MeSH terms
- Optimism, COVID-19, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Depression, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Young Adult, Pandemics, Mindfulness, Protective Factors
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
