The Mitigating Role of Psychological Flexibility on Non-Migrants’ Quality of Life during Covid-19

Abstract

This study investigates the potential moderating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between Covid-19 distress indicators—namely, Covid-19 experiences and knowledge of associated fatalities—and quality of life among a non-western migrant sample. Employing a cross-sectional design, we surveyed 129 participants from non-western backgrounds. The survey encompassed demographic data, attitudes toward Covid-19 regulations, personal Covid-19 encounters (operationalized as Covid experience), and acquaintances' Covid-19-related deaths. Established scales, including the Flexibility Index Test (FIT-24) and RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (RAND SF-36), quantified psychological flexibility (PF) and assessed quality of life (QoL). Contrary to expectations, Covid experience (CE) and known fatalities (D) did not significantly predict PF or QoL. However, a positive link between PF and QoL was observed. Notably, PF did not moderate the relationship between Covid-19 distress indicators and QoL, as initially hypothesized. In summary, the findings demonstrate a positive link between PF and QoL. However, PF moderating the relationship between CE/D and QoL was not observed. This underscores the unique impact of PF on well-being within the context of Covid-19.