The Role of Hope and Resilience in Protecting Against Suicidal thoughts and Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health and wellbeing of populations across the world. This study aimed to examine: (1) which specific aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with the presence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and (2) the extent to which participants’ hopelessness and resilience moderated the relationship between COVID-19 related stress and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Method

We administered an online survey to 12,989 adult (16+) participants across Wales from the 9th June to the 13th July 2020. Participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring the stressors they had experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, their levels of hopelessness over the past two weeks, their levels of resilience, and whether they had experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Our findings revealed that: (1) food insecurity, domestic abuse, relationship problems, redundancy, social isolation and financial problems were the COVID-19 related stressors most strongly associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and (2) that both hopelessness and resilience moderated the relationship between COVID-19 stress and suicidal thoughts, such that the relationship between COVID-19 stress and the presence of suicidal thoughts was much stronger for individuals with high hopelessness and low resilience.

Conclusions

These results highlight the aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that are closely related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors and demonstrate the important role that hope for the future and resilience play in protecting individuals against the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

• Stressors caused by the pandemic are linked to increased suicidal thoughts.

• Hope protects individuals against the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Resilience also protects people from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• hopelessness
• resilience
• stress
• suicide
• survey
• wales
• wellbeing

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

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

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [JK], upon reasonable request.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

JK, NG, CO’C and RS devised the study concept. JK, JP and NS created the online survey and monitored the data collection process. All authors contributed to the dissemination of the study. JK and RS carried out the data analysis procedures. JK wrote the manuscript and all authors contributed to editing the final version.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Joy Garfitt, Richard Jones, Philip Lewis, David Roberts, Alberto Salmoiraghi, and Ian Wile, who (along with CO'C) acted as the Principal Investigators in each of the seven Health Boards in Wales, for their help and support in disseminating this survey both to staff within their Health Boards and to the local populations they serve. Stuart Williams helped with the design of the website and with social media matters.

AUTHOR NOTES

James R. P. Knowles, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Nicola S. Gray, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Chris O’Connor, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Newport, UK. Jennifer Pink, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Nicola J. Simkiss, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. and Robert J. Snowden, Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.