The Future Looks Good: Examining the Associations Between Coping, Psychological Distress, and Optimism

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Mental Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression, anxiety, and stress.
• Individual coping mechanisms during adversity may influence future outlook and optimism.
• Previous research indicates a rise in mental health challenges globally due to the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), coping strategies (adaptive, maladaptive), and optimism in Portuguese workers.
• To explore the role of adaptive and maladaptive coping in mediating the relationship between mental health and optimism.
• To control for demographic and occupational variables such as work experience, gender, and work type.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 274 Portuguese workers from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Data collection included assessments of depression, anxiety, stress, coping styles, and optimism.
• Statistical analyses were performed to examine associations, controlling for work experience, gender, and work type.

Main Results:

• Depression was significantly associated with lower levels of optimism.
• Participants employing adaptive coping strategies and experiencing anxiety reported higher levels of optimism.
• Work type, gender, and years of work experience did not significantly moderate these associations.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive coping strategies may buffer the negative impact of pandemic-related stress on optimism.
• Promoting adaptive coping mechanisms is crucial for enhancing positive mental health and future outlook post-pandemic.
• The findings offer insights into psychological resilience and mental health promotion in the workforce.