Factores predictivos del bienestar y/o de sintomatología psicopatológica en adultosresultados longitudinales

Abstract

Objective: The present research aimed at evaluating the prediction factors of adults’ well-being and psychopathologic symptomatology over the course of a year. Method: This was a longitudinal study, during which we applied two sets of evaluation instruments with an interval of a year. During the first moment six instruments were applied: Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS); Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R); Hope Scale; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS); Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS); and Self Compassion Scale (SELFCS). One year after, four instruments were applied: Satisfaction With Life Scale; Hope scale; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales; and Life Experiences Survey (LES). The participants in this research were employees in public or private companies in the central area of Portugal. In the first stage, we obtained a crosscutting sample of 480 individuals with ages between 19 and 71 years old (M= 38,81; DP=10,40), while in the second stage we obtained a sample of 332 employees with ages between 21 and 71 years old (M= 39,20; DP=9,91). Findings: Findings demonstrate that in terms of life satisfaction, individuals with higher life satisfaction in the first stage as well as more hopeful, with lower neuroticism and with a greater number of positive life events, tended to be more satisfied with life in the second stage (T2). Regarding depression, we observed that the most depressed individuals in T1, with a higher number of negative life events and a lower number of positive life events, more anxious, less hopeful and more neurotic, tended to display higher levels of depression in T2. In terms of anxiety, findings show that the most anxious individuals during T1, with a higher number of negative life events, lower mindful attention awareness, less extraverted and with higher levels of stress, tended to be more anxious in T2. Stress-wise, we can state that individuals with higher levels of stress in the initial stage (T1), with a greater number of negative life events and lower mindful attention awareness, tended to display inferior levels of stress in the second moment (T2). As we have shown, negative life events had influence on depression, anxiety and stress. Through moderation studies we sought to verify if the variables that indicate adaptive psychological processes (mindfulness, hope, extraversion and self-compassion) moderated, or not, the effect of negative life events after one year. In terms of depression prediction, negative life events were moderated by mindfulness, hope and extraversion. Regarding anxiety prediction, the four studies we conducted showed that negative life events were not moderated by mindfulness, hope, and extraversion or by the two dimensions of self-compassion. In stress prediction, negative life events were moderated by mindfulness and extraversion. In life satisfaction prediction, negative events were moderated by hope and extraversion. Conclusion: The data obtained by the sample indicate that negative life events were attenuated by variables denoting positive process or psychological traits (mindfulness, hope, extroversion and self-compassion) according to the outcome variable (life satisfaction, depression, anxiety and stress). Thus, we suggest that personal development interventions should be based on the practice of mindful attention awareness, emotion regulation as well as the promotion of hope in the determination and ability to achieve goals. If we add to this an optimist outtake regarding events (extraversion), we think it is possible to reduce anxiety, depression and stress and maintain life satisfaction, in spite of negative life events.