Character Strengths as Predictors of Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 13-Month Longitudinal Study.

A single general factor of character strengths predicted mental health outcomes over a 13-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Sample consisted of N = 146 participants who completed online measures at two time points separated by 13 months.
• Character strengths were measured alongside mental health, life satisfaction, affect, and post-traumatic growth.
• The general character factor predicted later mental health, life satisfaction, affect, and post-traumatic growth.
• The study used a longitudinal design with structural equation modeling to test direct and mediated pathways.

Only the affective components of well-being, especially positive affect, mediated the relationship between character strengths and mental health.

• Both life satisfaction and post-traumatic growth were predicted by character strengths but did not emerge as significant mediators.
• Positive affect was identified as the primary mediating mechanism between character strengths and mental health.
• The mediation model was tested with the general character factor as predictor and mental health as the outcome.
• These findings suggest character strengths contribute to mental health specifically through fostering affective resilience.

When examining five distinct character strengths factors separately, the majority predicted higher well-being and better mental health over time.

• Five character strengths factors were tested as predictors in a second set of models, replicating the mediation structure.
• Goodness, interpersonal, and fortitude strengths yielded the strongest effects on well-being and mental health.
• The majority of the five factors predicted both well-being outcomes and mental health longitudinally.
• Results suggest differential predictive value across the five character strength domains.

Character strengths were conceptualized as stable psychological resources that contribute to sustainable well-being in the context of adversity.

• The study framed its findings in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Character strengths were described as promoting 'affective resilience in the face of adversity.'
• The longitudinal design spanning 13 months during the COVID-19 pandemic was used to assess stability and predictive power of character strengths.
• The authors identified the need to study 'stable psychological resources that promote sustainable well-being' as motivation for the study.

Post-traumatic growth was predicted by character strengths but did not serve as a mediator between character strengths and mental health.

• Post-traumatic growth was included as one of the outcome and potential mediator variables alongside life satisfaction and affect.
• Character strengths significantly predicted post-traumatic growth over the 13-month period.
• Despite being predicted by character strengths, post-traumatic growth did not mediate the character-mental health relationship.
• Life satisfaction similarly was predicted but did not mediate, contrasting with positive affect which did mediate.