Disentangling The Link Between Positive Personality Traits And Mental Wellbeing Across Gender: The Role Of Cognitive Regulation

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is known to be a global and significant public health crisis. Similar public health challenges are expected in future in this rapidly advancing era of science and technology. Understanding protective factors such as psychological strengths and personal positive traits to better adapt such adversities may help individuals be prepared to combat such challenges. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the explanatory role of cognitive emotion regulation in the association of the two positive personality traits, resilience and gratitude, with mental wellbeing among young men and women during the pandemic time. Method: In a cross sectional study design, a sample of young adults (N= 303; 153 women; M age = 30.17, SD=12.63) completed the study measures. Results: Results revealed significant indirect associations of gratitude and resilience with mental wellbeing explained through positive reappraisal. Only positive reappraisal, but not refocus on planning accounted for a significant variance in the associations of resilience and gratitude with mental wellbeing. In addition, gender significantly interacted with resilience to predicted positive reappraisal; and the conditional indirect associations between resilience, positive reappraisal, and mental wellbeing were stronger form women compared to men. Conclusion: Findings highlight the relevance of positive personality traits and positive reappraisal in wellbeing during the pandemic in the presence of limited availability of external resources and suggest the potential utility of interventions aimed at improving resilience, gratitude, and positive emotion regulation to improve wellbeing of young adults.