The Role of Personality Risk and Protective Factors in Living with Covid-19: A Longitudinal Study

Earlier research has shown the significant role of personality in serving as risk or protective factors in psychological wellbeing. However, it is less clear the extent to which personality plays in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of the current study was to examine the role of a personality risk factors such as self-criticism, and personality strengths such as efficacy and intrinsic motivation representing resilience in predicting psychological outcomes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of a broader longitudinal study, personality measures were assessed at ages 23 and 29, and Covid-19-related outcomes were measured at age 41 on a subsample of 83 Israeli participants, who were approached after the first lockdown that was implemented (April 2020). Findings showed that self-criticism measured at age 23 anticipated greater Covid-19-related distress and lower satisfaction at age 41. Decrease in self-criticism from age 23 to 29, which indicates developmental progress toward maturity, explained lower non-adaptive emotional reactions at age 41- lower distress and lower anxiety. In addition, a higher level of intrinsic motivation at age 29 explained a greater likelihood to expect post pandemic growth. Findings highlight the role of personality in addressing unexpected stressful events such as the current Covid-19 pandemic.