The role of social problem solving and emotion regulation skills in predicting psychological resilience

The aim of this study was to explore the role of emotion regulation and social problem skills as predictive factors of psychological resilience during the Covid-19 crisis in Latvia. The current study was a part of the project Nr. VPP-COVID-2020/1-0011. Two sets of the multiple linear regression analyses were performed, based on a nationally representative sample (N = 2608, men 39,8%, aged from 18 – 74), and data obtained from the three parts of the survey, comprising Psychological Resilience Scale (Perepjolkina & Mārtinsone, 2020), the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ-27; Berking & Znoj, 2008) and Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised version (SPSI-R; D’Zurilla, Nezu, Maydeu-Olivares, 2002). In the first model it was found that Emotion regulation skills are the strongest predictor of psychological resilience accountings for 22.1% of the variance (ß = 0.47), followed by Negative problem orientation (ΔR2 = 15.0%, ß = -0.39) and Positive problem orientation (ΔR2 = 3.7%, ß = 0.22). All together these three variables accounted for R2 = 40.8% of the variance (F(3, 2604) = 598.67, p < .001). In the second model the strongest predictor was found to be Avoidance style accountings for 8.2% of the variance in the first step (ß = -0.28), followed by Rational problem solving in the second step (ΔR2 = 5.0%, ß = 0.22). Both variables together accounting for 13.0% of the variance of the dependent variable (F(2, 2605) = 196.49, p < .001). These findings suggest that successful emotion regulation and constructive optimistic orientation towards problem-solving can maintain psychological resilience, but pessimism about one’s ability to solve problems, and the tendency to become frustrated about problems, as well as procrastination and inaction are negative predictors of psychological resilience.