Psychological resources of the individual during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

We present a review of studies of psychological resources of personality related to psychological well-being and health. The description of resources is based on S. Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory, its main position is to preserve the balance of resources and losses when building a person’s behavior in a stressful situation. Obviously, with a lack of resources, the distress experienced will be expressed more clearly. At the same time, a person in a stressful situation can not only lose, but also acquire resources. Thus, the resulting effect of a difficult life situation develops, including from the actions of the individual. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of psychological resources in the vast majority of the population of our country. At the same time, the damage to the resources of the individual is caused in several angles at once: the actual experience of the disease, the experience of fears associated with it, reactions to quarantine measures, as well as the general damage to social and economic relations caused by the pandemic. The influence of factors of optimism, social support and positive habits that increase psychological well-being on the replenishment of psychological resources of the individual is considered. We present research from the field of positive psychology and health psychology, confirming the suitability of our recommendations to support the psychological resources of the individual during the COVID-19 pandemic.