Character virtues prospectively predict responses to situational stressors in daily life in clinical and subclinical samples

ABSTRACT

Background

Character strengths and virtues may shape responses to stressors and risk for anxious and depressive distress. However, most studies have relied on cross-sectional designs, and it remains unclear whether virtues directly predict distress in daily life or buffer context-specific stressors. We tested whether higher-order intellectual (inquisitiveness), intrapersonal (self-control), and interpersonal virtues (caring) prospectively predicted coping responses and lower symptoms, and moderated effects of specific stressors on distress.

Methods

Treatment-seeking individuals diagnosed with anxiety/depression (N = 81; Study 1) and students (N = 112; Study 2) completed the VIA Inventory of Strengths survey at baseline, then experience-sampling of daily symptoms and situational responses (perceptions and/or coping strategies) over seven days (Study 1) or five weeks (Study 2).

Results

Multilevel models generally linked virtues to more adaptive daily responses during individuals’ worst and best daily events (Study 1) and worst events (Study 2), but inquisitiveness unexpectedly predicted higher symptoms in both studies. Additionally, virtues buffered against the within-person effects of specific stressor perceptions on distress (Study 2).

Conclusions

The relevance of character virtues for anxiety, stress, and coping may be complex, predicting higher or lower symptoms depending on both the virtue and the situational context.

KEYWORDS:

• Character strengths
• virtues
• stress
• anxiety
• depression
• person-situation interaction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by a Seattle Pacific University Faculty Research Grant to Thane Erickson.