This study explores the potential for meaning making processes (MMPs) to help in positive adaptation to Covid stressors (CS) during outbreaks. Using the meaning making model (MMM) (Park, 2010) it is proposed that global meaning violation (GMV) will trigger the MMPs i.e. meaning making coping (MMC) and core belief re-examination (CBR) leading to positive adaptation. Employing a cross sectional design and using structural equational modelling (SEM) path analysis, the effect of CS on GMV and role of GMV in triggering the MMPs was examined. Further it was tested if the MMPs positively predict psychological wellbeing (PWB) and negatively predict distress. 683 local community participants (64.56% females) completed the survey containing 3 attention checks to ensure high quality of data. Findings indicated that acceptable goodness of fit indices supported the overall theoretical model. Findings from the SEM path analysis indicated that CS lead to GMV which leads to the MMPs i.e. MMC and CBR. However, only MMC positively predict PWB and negatively predict distress. Despite the cross-sectional nature of the study, it is one of the first studies during the pandemic to provide support to core assumptions of MMM and enrich the literature that traumatic events like Covid19 disrupts individuals’ global meaning (GMV) and this disruption triggers the MMPs of MMC and CBR. Moreover, this study demonstrates that during Covid outbreaks rather than re-examining core beliefs, MMC employing both cognitive and emotional processing of stressors to change the meaning of the stressors, helps in positive adaptation to CS.

Authors:
David Kansakar, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Mr David Kansakar is a University Doctoral Student at Lingnan University in Hong Kong

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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