Emotional distress in Catholic priests and religious sisters during COVID-19: the mediational role of trait positivity

The present study focused on the mediating role of positivity in the relationship between emotional stability, conscientiousness, with positive affect, negative affect, and anxiety, among priests and religious sisters during the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. We examined the role of positivity as a basic disposition predisposing individuals to a positive mode of viewing reality for priests and religious sisters during the quarantine. We used data from 205 religious participants, collected during the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. Results revealed that emotional stability and conscientiousness significantly and indirectly predicted positive affectivity, but were significant and negative indirect predictors of negative affect, and state anxiety. This study emphasizes the protective role of positivity in the specific population of priests and religious sisters during a pandemic outbreak.