The Impact of COVID-19 on Psychological Adjustment Problems: The Mediating Roles of Meaning in Life and Resilience

While the number of COVID-19 cases has significantly decreased, its lasting effects persist, posing a continued threat to global mental health and well-being. The aftermath of the pandemic raises concerns about psychological adaptation, meaning in life, and resilience among individuals. This study investigated the potential impact of COVID-19 on psychological adjustment problems and explored the mediating roles of meaning in life and resilience in this relationship. The study involved a sample of 481 general publics from Turkey, with 53.8% of participants identifying as male, and ages ranging from 18 to 70 years (M = 26.63, SD = 6.50). Using an online survey, participants completed the self-reported measures of COVID-19 impact, meaning in life, resilience, and psychological adjustment problems. The findings revealed that the COVID-19 impact significantly predicted levels of meaning in life, resilience, and psychological adjustment problems. Also, meaning in life and resilience emerged as significant predictors of psychological adjustment problems. Notably, the mediation effects of meaning in life and resilience in the relationship between COVID-19 impact and psychological adjustment problems were statistically significant. These results suggest that the COVID-19 influence may reduce levels of meaning in life and resilience, ultimately leading to increased psychological adjustment problems. These findings have implications for highlighting the importance of incorporating strength-based approaches in guidelines and interventions aimed at promoting positive psychological health in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.