The Role of ‘Positivity’ and Big Five Traits during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian National Representative Survey

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in psychological problems. However, little is known about the role of positivity and personality traits in facing the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed at investigating whether higher positivity was associated with a better emotional, behavioural and cognitive response to COVID-19, taking into account the role of the big five traits. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional multiple waves study with 5,002 participants representative of the Italian general population (May 2021 and March 2022). The Ten Item Personality Inventory was used for the evaluation of the big five traits, while the Positivity Scale for the assessment of positivity. Statistical analyses included linear regression models and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results: The main predictors of Preventive behaviours of COVID-19 were Conscientiousness (β=0.100, p<0.001) and Agreeableness (β=0.117, p<0.001), while the main predictor in explaining self-efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection was Positivity (β=0.141, p<0.001). Neuroticism (β=-0.186, p<0.001) and Positivity (β=0.094, p<0.001) predicted the Affective response related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Positivity has a protective role in buffering the negative effects of the pandemic on people’s affective response, as well as supporting stronger self-efficacy and confidence about the usefulness of the vaccine, and higher preventive behaviours, over and above personality traits. The results of the sensitivity analysis using the first two components of the big five traits Communion and Agency confirmed the results of the linear regressions of the big five traits: communion is the main predictor of Preventive behaviours of COVID-19, while self-efficacy of preventing COVID-19 infection. Discussion: Positivity has a protective role in buffering the negative effects of the pandemic on people’s affective response, as well as supporting stronger self-efficacy and confidence about the usefulness of the vaccine, and higher preventive behaviours, over and above personality traits.