With the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has encountered abrupt yet long-lasting changes. To effectively manage these changes, character strengths are required. Among these is a key psychological construct of serenity, which entails an inner peace independent of adverse circumstances or feelings. Its three subscales of acceptance, inner haven, and trust have been shown to contribute to the peacefulness essential in this turmoil period. The current study, hence, was conducted to investigate factors predicting serenity and to examine its mental health outcomes. Data were collected in two studies. In Study 1, 225 Thai adult community sample (Mage = 39.57 years, SDage = 10.60 years; Females = 167 or 74%) responded to the measures of serenity and its hypothesized predictors (i.e., mindfulness, meaning in life, hope, and social connectedness). In Study 2, 107 Thai undergraduates (Mage = 20.08 years, SDage= 1.00 year; Females = 69 or 64%) responded to the measures of serenity and mental health indicators (i.e., stress, depression, anxiety, positive-negative affect, and psychological well-being). Consistently, the hypotheses were supported. Altogether, mindfulness, meaning in life, hope, and social connectedness significantly and positively predicted serenity in Study 1. In Study 2, serenity, as well as its three subscales, was negatively associated with stress, depression, anxiety, and negative affect but positively associated with psychological well-being. Findings from the current study helped: 1) shed lights on factors contributing to serenity development and 2) attest the roles of serenity in mental health and well-being. Implications on serenity cultivation and mental health promotion were discussed.

Authors:
Kullaya Pisitsungkagarn, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Somboon Jarukasemthawee, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Jireerat Sittiwong, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Kullaya Pisitsungkagarn is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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