Religions (Aug 2021)

Self-Compassion and Social Connectedness as Predictors of “Peace and Meaning” during Spain’s Initial COVID-19 Lockdown

  • Jesús Saiz,
  • Berta Ausín,
  • Clara González-Sanguino,
  • Miguel Ángel Castellanos,
  • María Salazar,
  • Carolina Marin,
  • Aída López-Gómez,
  • Carolina Ugidos,
  • Manuel Muñoz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12090683
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 9
p. 683

Abstract

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The COVID-19 lockdown has had a massive psychological impact on mental health in the general population, with increases in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Spiritual well-being, specifically peace and meaning, has already been identified as one of the main protective factors for these disorders in the COVID-19 context. The aim of the present study is to identify facilitating elements for peace and meaning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Online surveys were used to obtain data from a sample of 3480 Spanish people. Self-compassion and social support were positively related with peace and meaning, while loneliness and perceived discrimination were negatively related. The model for peace and meaning was statistically significant, explaining 47% of the variance. The significant variables were self-kindness, family support, mindfulness, and sense of belonging having a positive association and loneliness a negative one.

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