Personality traits, mental disorders and psychological suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Introduction The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the diagnosis of mental disorder and personality traits on psychological suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 3,633 people aged between 18 and 80 years took part in this study. Participants answered the sample characterization questionnaire, the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 - brief form (PID-5-BF), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to validate the PS construct. Then, the theoretical model was estimated by modeling structural equations and tested for adequacy. Results All relations showed to be positive and statistically significant. The diagnosis of a mental disorder has a positive impact on all five personality traits, with the greatest coefficient being Negative Affectivity and PS. The personality traits directly impacted Psychological Suffering. Psychoticism and Detachment showed the greatest coefficients, while Antagonism, the lowest one. Conclusions The results of the final model confirm the hypotheses of this study. The knowledge of this by mental healthcare practitioners allows professionals to be aware of possible aggravating crises and pre-existing symptoms during the pandemic period.