Cited by 94COVID-19 and Mental HealthResilience and Mental HealthMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Resilience Contributes to Low Emotional Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak Among the General Population in Italy

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Lenzo, Vittorio, Quattropani, Maria C., Musetti, Alessandro, Zenesini, Corrado, Freda, Maria Francesca, Lemmo, Daniela, Vegni, Elena, Borghi, Lidia +5 more·2020·Frontiers in Psychology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak is severely affecting the overall mental health with unknown psychological consequences. Although a strong psychological impact is possible, scant evidence is available to date. Past studies have shown that resilience decreases the negative effects of stress. This study aimed to examine depression, anxiety, and stress among the Italian general population during the phase characterized by lockdown, and to investigate the role of resilience as a potential predictor. METHODS: A total sample of 6,314 Italian people participated in this study. Participants were recruited between March 29 and May 04 2020 through an online survey. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Resilience Scale (RS) were administered. Demographic data and lockdown related information were also collected. A correlational analysis was carried out to examine relationships between psychopathological domains and resilience. Three hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using the depression, anxiety, and stress as dependent variables and the resilience as independent variable controlling for age, gender, and education. COVID-19 specific variables were also included in the three regression analyses. A further exploratory analysis was carried out to examine which aspects of resilience predict depression, anxiety, and stress. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to extremely severe symptoms among participants was 32% for depression, 24.4% for anxiety, and 31.7% for stress. The sample mean scores on depression, anxiety, and stress were higher than the normal scores reported in the literature. Results of correlational analysis showed that resilience factors, such as meaningfulness, self-reliance, existential aloneness, and equanimity, are inversely associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Results of regression analyses indicated that resilience was statically significant in predicting depression, anxiety, and stress. Geographic area of residence and infected acquaintances were also significant predictors. Regarding the resilience factors, results revealed that meaningfulness, perseverance, and equanimity were statistically significant in predicting all the DASS-21 scales. CONCLUSION: About a third of respondents reported moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress. The present study suggests that psychological resilience may independently contribute to low emotional distress and psychological ill-being. These findings can help explain the variability of individual responses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Authors
Lenzo, V., Quattropani, M. C., Musetti, A., Zenesini, C., Freda, M. F., Lemmo, D., Vegni, E., Borghi, L., Plazzi, G., Castelnuovo, G., Cattivelli, R., Saita, E., & Franceschini, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Messina (IT)
  • University of Parma (IT)
  • Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (IT)
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
  • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
Corresponding author
Lenzo, Vittorio
Venue
Frontiers in Psychology
Published
2020-11-04
Volume
11
Pages
576485-576485
ISSN
1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3095634118
Cited by
94
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 3
FWCI
7.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • PubliCatt (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, psychological resilience, depression, anxiety, stress, lockdown, mental health, meaningfulness, equanimity, perseverance, self-reliance

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