Relationship between personality, adherence to (mental) health behaviours and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: European psychiatry Vol. 65; no. S1; p. S266
• Main Authors: Pereira, A.T., Cabacos, C., Soares, S., Araújo, A., Manão, A., Amaral, A.P., De Sousa, R., Macedo, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Cambridge University Press 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Abstract; Behavior; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; E-Poster Presentation; Health behaviours; Mental health; Pandemics; Personality; Sociodemographics
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.681

IntroductionPublic health authorities around the world have been disseminating messages to support mental health and psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Portuguese guidelines, we have developed the Adherence Scale to the Recommendations for Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic (ASR-MH-COVID19) to better understand this health behaviour.ObjectivesTo analyse the relationship between sociodemographics, personality traits, Adherence (to the Recommendations for Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic) and psychological distress.Methods413 individuals (69.2% female; mean age=31.02±14,272) completed an on-line survey, in September-December 2020, including sociodemographic questions, ASR-MH-COVID19, NEO-FFI-20 and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Health Perception Scale.ResultsAdherence scores did not significantly differ by gender, age and years of education. Women presented higher DASS and Neuroticism scores (p<.01). Adherence were negatively correlated with Neuroticism (r=-.247) and with Depression/Anxiety/Stress (all r».-200), positively with Openness to Experience (r=.174), Conscientiousness (r=.194) and Perceived Health (Physical, r=.173 and Psychological, r=.215) (all p<.01). Mediation analysis (Hays’ Macro Process - Model 4) revealed that Adherence is a partial mediator between Openness and DASS and Conscientiousness and DASS; when considering Neuroticism, only the direct effect was significant. The effect of Perceived Health (both Physical and Psychological) on DASS was also mediated by Adherence.ConclusionsThe Health Behaviour Model proposes a pathway linking personality and health that applies to these results about adherence and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and perceived health (also a trait) influence both adherence to mental health behaviours and psychological distress. Understanding personality is vital for health care providers.DisclosureNo significant relationships.