PSYCHOLOGICAL PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND INDIVIDUAL FUNCTIONING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background: This article summarizes considerations regarding physical and mental health and optimism during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research goal is to answer questions about coping with emotions, optimism, and the general attitude to the situation related to the emergence of an epidemic that threatens the health and life of the population. Material and methods : The tools used in the study were the CECS questionnaire measuring the expression of emotions in the Polish adaptation of Juczyński and the LOT-R questionnaire of optimism in the Polish adaptation of Poprawa and Juczyński, as well as the original questionnaire on key spheres of functioning in a pandemic.


Theoretical introduction
On the 4 th March 2020, the first patient with Covid-19 was diagnosed in Poland [I] . An important aspect in reducing the spread of the virus is hygiene, quarantine, distance and social responsibility. Inability to leave the house, various types of limitations, ™ burdens, and the lack of social contacts have a negative impact on the functioning of individuals. Among other things, there has been an increase in domestic violence [II] . Psychological consequences of the global lockdown: including domestic violence can be year of unique experience.
Therefore, today it is worth looking for correlates of good functioning (protective factors) in a pandemic, so as to design aid and preventive measures. The development of children, adolescents or the whole family takes place not only at home, but in broader developmental contexts (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).
The time of the Covid-19 epidemic creates difficulties in the functioning of individual environmental systems (Usher et al., 2020;Sheffler, Joiner, Sachs-Ericsson, 2021).
Some subsystems have even been turned off (e.g. school. Public offices, clubs), which should be extremely important when analyzing the development of an individual. The authors are beginning to notice these difficulties (Cheng et al., 2020;Scheier, Carver, 1987).
The state of social group panic can lead to many negative social behaviors, such as group polarization or crowd psychosis (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2010).
The people's emotions are quite natural because they are related to the most important, basic human needs, such as physiological and safety (Maslow, 2019).
In an emergency situation, in the loss of security and stress feeling, people react in different ways, which is related to the psychology of individual differences. However, there are psychological variables that are related to effective coping with stress, they are called psychological resources (Hobfoll, 2002).
One of them is emotional intelligence (Prime, Wade, Browne, 2020). The key seems to be the possibility of coping with difficult emotions and circumstances that a negative influence on the functioning of the unit, which is also related to the fundamental individual differences, seems to be anger, anxiety and so basic emotions highlighted today in a classic tool of emotional control (Por, et al., 2011;Seligman, 2006;White, Martin, Adamsons, 2018). It also seems that the level of optimism is important for attitudes during the pandemic (Kuper-Smith, 2020).
One of the personality traits that can positively affect the functioning of a person regardless of the situation in which he is found is optimism. Seligman's Theory of Optimism (2002, 2006 is one of the best known in the world. The author based it on the theory of attribution and causes of events. The components of optimism he distinguished are constancy, range and personalization. They refer to the search for external and internal constants and variables, specific and global causes of success and failure. Carver and Scheier (2003) created one of the most popular theories of optimism -dispositional optimism. They assumed that it is a permanent personal trait, independent of the life situation. Protective factors such as the level of coping with emotions (anger, depression) and the level of optimism may be crucial during acute stress such as a pandemic outbreak and during chronic stress resulting from a prolonged epidemic (Carver, Scheier, 2003).
Moreover is not surprising that the first studies on coping with stress appear in connection with the global Covid-19 epidemic. Research concerns, for example, PTSD symptoms (Bo et al., 2021).
In addition, there are instructions for the prevention of mental health at the time of the epidemic issued by the World Health Organization [III] .

Objectives own research
Undoubtedly important from the point of view of this study is to determine the pandemic situation perceived by Polish Society. Significant, to determine the factors that may be related to the situation of the epidemic.
The attention was paid to sociological factors such as: place of residence, age, gender, education and others. One cannot forget about psychological issues related to optimism, expression of emotions and other significant aspects that may be related to the conduct of preventive measures in this area. In first situation, that optimism can be a buffer, in other it can lead to irrational beliefs, which may suggest the lack of a real threat in the multi-faceted dimension (Kuper-Smith, 2020). What is more, the knowledge of Poles about Covid-19 positively correlates with the level of optimism (Hypothesis 1).
The greater the knowledge on a given topic, the lower the level of stereotypical thinking, therefore the greater the knowledge should protect against negative emotions, therefore it was assumed that the greater the knowledge of Poles in case of Covid-19 the lower the level of anger, anxiety and depression (Hypothesis 2). The level of optimism should also be negatively related to the level of fear of Covid-19 (the higher the level of optimism, the lower the anxiety) (Hypothesis 3), and the level of fear of Covid-19 should be associated with a higher level anger, anxiety and depression (Hypothesis 4).
Several follow-up studies are also planned. An important issue in an attempt is to take on this analysis may become gender differences. This may be a crucial importance in the difference of reactions of both women and men in a specific situation, especially a crisis. Thus, different reactions of women and men may be associated with stereotypes (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2010). It can also be a significant age. On this particular virus older people are mainly exposed on the risk from other co-morbidities. Then the threat to the health and life of people in late adulthood becomes even more serious (Peterson, Bossio, 1991).
The topics related to various are related to the pandemic and worth exploring due to the implicational dimension of these considerations. The authors decided to study design and implement them during the period attributable to the strictest restrictions that existed in Poland.

Own research method
To answer the research studies on emotional control, the CECS questionnaire was used. It is a method developed by Watson and Greer (White et al., 2018) in the Polish adaptation of Juczyński (2008). CECS (Courtauld Emotional Control Scale) consists of three subscales, each of which contains seven statements concerning the way of disclosing anger, depression and anxiety in difficult situations. It is designed to test healthy and sick people. The tested group, responds to the statements on the scale 1-4, where 1 means "almost never" and 4 -"almost always". The questionnaire contains 21 statements that allow you to obtain an overall score (Emotion Control). By summing up the results of all three subscales, the emotional control index is determined, which represents the subjective belief of an individual as to the ability to control one's relationships in a situation of experiencing specific emotions. The Polish version is characterized by high accuracy and reliability (Cronbach's alpha for the anger control scale was 0,8, for the depression control scale was 0,77, for the anxiety control scale was 0,78, and for the emotion control scale was 0,87).
The LOT-R questionnaire was also used, the authors of which are Michael F. Scheier, Charles S. Carver and Michael W. Bridges. The Life Orientation Test (Seligman, 2002) in the Polish adaptation of Poprawa and Juczyński (2001) allows presentation on orientation in life, expressing generalized beliefs about positive or negative expectations (Juczyński, 2001). It consists of 10 items, 6 of which are diagnostic, and the other four serve as buffer items. Originally, its goal was to establish the links between dispositional optimism and personality variables such as self-esteem, anxiety, neuroticism, and coping strategies. The tool is highly valid and has alpha = 0,76 reliability. Stability as measured by test-retest was 0.43 after 6 weeks. The theoretical validity of LOT-R was assessed by analyzing the relationship between optimism and other variables that coexist with: high self-esteem, tendency to experience positive emotions, concentration in stressful situations on the task rather than emotions. LOT-R negatively correlates with the depression control (-0,54) and anger (-0,51) of the CECS Emotion Control Scale. In order to answer the basic research questions regarding the knowledge and feelings of Poles about the pandemic, an original survey was also prepared. The most important, according to respondents is competent aspects related to a crisis situation, which is a pandemic. Two scales were specified in the survey. The first was knowledge of Covid-19, including aspects such as: mastery of how to behave in this particular situation, knowledge of interventions, and compliance with the rules. The scales consisted of questions

Analysis of own research results
Knowledge about Covid-19 positively correlates with the level of optimism (r s =0,131; p=0,01). The higher optimism, indicate more control over the situation like quarantine. The result allows for a positive verification of hypothesis 1.
Knowledge about Covid-19 is not related to the expression of emotions -anger (r s = -0,004; p=0,471),depression (r s = -0,009; p=0,438) and anxiety (r s =0,065; p=0,13). The second hypothesis was rejected. Additional statistical analyzes were also performed. Women are more knowledgeable about the pandemic issue, compared to the Men about the virus causing the disease (t=3,7; p<0,001). Comparison of gender shows that women's level of optimism is different than men's, anger, depression and anxiety and the level of fear 05).
Age negatively correlates with depression (r s = -0,125; p=0,02) and at the level of the statistical tendency there is a positive relationship between age and the fear of Covid-19 (r s = 0,087; p=0,078). Than people are older, the greater is the anxiety associated with the pandemic situation. The state of physical and mental health positively correlates with optimism (r s = 0,259; p<0,001) and negatively with fear of Covid-19 (r s = -0,260; p<0,001).
The respondents living in the countryside have a higher level of optimism (Mann Whitney Test Z=-2,746; p=0,006). On the other hand, people living in the city experienced a higher level of fear of Covid-19 than those living in the countryside (Mann Whitney Test Z=-2,109; p=0,035). The current state of physical health related to the pandemic situation is related to the fear of Covid 19 (H=34,06; p<0,001) and the level of optimism (H=22,02; p<0,001). People without subjective changes in their physical health have a higher level of optimism and a lower level of Covid-19 fear. There were no significant differences in the knowledge of Covid-19, anger, depression and anxiety (p>0,05). The current state of mental health is related to the level of optimism (H=34,13;

Discussion of the results of research
The results of the conducted research indicates the need for preventive measures and the need to advertise behaviors related to maintaining mental health during an epidemic. It is especially needed for example by publications issued by international organizations dealing with aspects related to mental health. These include items such as newsletters or guides promoted by the World Health Organization. [V] Additionally, some psychological resources are essential for the proper functioning of the individual as well as social. These include aspects such as emotional intelligence or empathy for others. Both key variables for this study -the level of knowledge about Covid-19 and the level of fear of Covid-19 correlate with the level of optimism. The greater optimism, corelates with the greater the knowledge and composure associated with a crisis situation, and the lower the level of anxiety. Research and theories that indicate the importance of optimism in normal reality, pointing to a correlation with well-being, professional career, social functioning or health (Carver, Scheier, 2014;Carver, Scheier, Segerstrom, 2010). These elements also apply in a pandemic situation. This is a key conclusion, not only for the pandemic situation, but also for the future of crisis intervention activities. Actions aimed at strengthening life optimism and general mental resilience should be obligatory initiatives for children and adolescents. This fact is marked in the description of research on mental resilience or in the postulates concerning educational leadership (Bush, Bell, Middlewood, 2019;Masten, 2018).
Moreover, everyday education of children and youth should be one of the main preventive recommendations not only of international organizations, but also of activities in every school, workplace or in the immediate environment.
Importantly, the Covid-19 pandemic is a big challenge for families (Cheng et al., 2020). Strengthening different age groups is also important from a systemic perspective, the functioning of adults, parents and grandparents family relations quality, implementation of tasks and development M. STRADOMSKA, M. BARŁÓG, K. PEREC of children. Adopting the correct attitudes brings particular importance in lockdown, when the possibilities of active and creative leisure are limited. Moreover, the level of optimism or dealing with emotions can be extremely important. Building child's resources should also help reduce negative emotions. In this study, the fear of Covid-19 negatively correlates with optimism and positively correlates with the emotions of anger, anxiety and depression.
It turns out that the lack of adequate individual resources, proven possibilities of counteracting the negative aspects of everyday functioning may have a negative reflection in the experience of a crisis situation by people of all ages. What is more, women have greater knowledge about Covid-19, which may indicate a social role (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2010). This should not come as a surprise in the context of developmental and family psychology, where women, mothers -evolutionarily care for the family system (Williams, Williams, 2012), so it seems quite natural to be more interested in current affairs, health, safety, i.e. taking care of basic needs of families, children from Maslow's hierarchy (Maslow, 2019).
This interest is greater in the city. Older people are characterized by a lower level of expression of depressive emotions but they have a greater fear of Covid-19, which is natural because the epidemic mainly affects the elderly, while people are more afraid of phenomena and situations that are closer to them cognitively, emotionally and socially (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2010). Therefore, more than always, people should take care of the elderly, not only physically, help with the current needs, but also in terms of mental health. In this depressive time, it should be reminded that the elderly people has higher suicidological risk (Scheier, Carver, 1987).
Another group that should be cared more are people who suffer from various types of health ailments, both physical and mental. It seems obvious from the perspective of the features related to the occurrence of a situation that meets the crisis criteria. People who may require support in this difficult time in many respects are people staying in health facilities, hospices, etc. In addition to physical fear, the study shows differences between groups regarding each of the main variables analyzed: optimism, anger, anxiety, depression, and knowledge about Covid-19, or the fear of Covid-19. This article describes aspects related to quantitative research. The series of articles on this study will also be expanded to include qualitative results, the analysis of which provides specific data, e.g. on crisis prevention. It found that in-depth qualitative interviews could reveal even greater difficulties.

Conclusions
Presented research results allows to conclude and interpret the relationships between emotional control, optimism and other factors, which in an epidemic situation has a large impact on social functioning, including health care and aid units (Ansumana et al., 2017;McMahon, 2016). Moreover, unexpressed emotions, especially anger, may be associated with deterioration of health and may also contribute to the development of certain diseases (Witter, 2017). It has also been found that holding back anger, as opposed to expressing it, is positively correlated with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure reactivity, coronary artery disease and hypertension (Baumeister, Heatherton, Tice, 2000).The tendency to suppress emotions turns out to be a relatively constant feature of highly socialized people. Additionally, those who rigidly adhere to the applicable social norms. Moreover, unexpressed emotions, which are repeated and persistent for a long time, becomes the basis of many neurotic disorders and psychosomatic diseases (Everly, Rosenfeld, 1992).
In the psychological opinion, expressing emotions, including anger, anger and sadness, is very important. Successive disclosure of feelings, thoughts and experiences may lead to better therapeutic effects in the long term.
Taking into account the above-presented results of own research, can propose general conclusions useful in psychological practice. It should include: • strengthen the strengths of customers and their sense of optimism, which is an important protective factor. • organize meetings, talks in order to talk about emotions, in order to make people aware that it is an important and valuable aspect in a multi-faceted understanding.
M. STRADOMSKA, M. BARŁÓG, K. PEREC • plan activities aimed at promoting knowledge about the control of emotions and the importance of this issue in the development of an individual in various life situations, both personal and professional. • equip people professionally working with people in crisis with competences related to providing support to beneficiaries, family or others. • despite the general principles of assistance, activities should be tailored to the needs of individual individuals and groups, the own study noticed differences in the level of the analyzed variables depending on gender, age or health condition.