Weekly dynamics of stressor resilience and protective factors during the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe

BACKGROUND: In a recent cross-sectional study, we highlighted psychosocial resilience factors associated with good mental health during the first COVID-19-lockdown. However, dynamic concepts of resilience suggest that people’s response to adversity can change over time. To better understand the emergence of resilience, we here examined individual dynamics of stressor resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In a longitudinal experience sampling design, participants (N=200) completed six weekly questionnaires assessing current stressor exposure, mental health burden, and resilience factors. We used linear mixed models to investigate within- and between-subject associations between stressor resilience and protective factors. RESULTS: Weekly stressor resilience scores were positively associated with subject-level variation in the resilience factors positive appraisal use, positive appraisal of the COVID-19 pandemic, and general self-efficacy (ps<.05). Time-lagged analyses showed no prediction of stressor resilience by resilience factor use in the preceding week. Stressor exposure positively predicted behavioural coping use during the next week (p<.02). CONCLUSION: Observed fluctuations in positive appraisal use and general self-efficacy within individuals support the notion that processes of resilience are not stable across time. The time-delayed effect of stressor exposure on behavioural coping use might indicate an early mechanism of stress inoculation, by which stress improves future coping strategies.