Harris, Peter R, Richards, Alice and Bond, Rod (2022) Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation and mental health: relationships with self-esteem, dispositional optimism and coping. Self and Identity. ISSN 1529-8868

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Abstract

In two online studies, we test whether spontaneous self-affirmation (measured by the Spontaneous Self-Affirmation Measure, SSAM) predicts better mental health and coping and the role that self-esteem and dispositional optimism play in these relationships. Study 1 (N = 110) was cross-sectional. In study 2 (N = 192) we collected the mental health measures one month post-baseline. Consistent with pre-registered hypotheses, the SSAM predicted less anxiety, depression and avoidant coping, and greater wellbeing and non-avoidant coping; however, relationships involving self-esteem and optimism varied with the reported source of self-affirmation measured by the SSAM (strengths, values, social relations). Overall, the findings are generally consistent with the hypothesis that spontaneous self-affirmation tends to function as a resource that fosters positive coping with threats.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Self-affirmation, self-esteem, dispositional optimism, mental health and wellbeing
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	15 Sep 2022 14:41
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2022 14:45
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/107927

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