Trait Versus State: The Differential Impact of Personality Traits, Coping Behaviors and Cognitions on Depression and Anxiety

The present study aims to investigate the differential impact of different types of variables on depression and anxiety. In particular, the impact of trait-variables (i.e., personality measured with the brief Big Five Inventory (BFI-10)) are contrasted against state-variables, including unhelpful coping behavior (measured with CAS-1) and cognitions including positive metacognitions and negative metacognitions (both measured with CAS-1). Personality is defined as a set of traits that is relatively consistent over time and situation, and is subsequently less susceptible as a target mechanisms for therapy. Still, researchers have devoted great efforts toward describing personality traits as related to different psychopathological disorders. Consequently, the present study aims to investigate the differential associations of traits (i.e., personality) versus state variables (metacognitions and coping behaviors) on depression and anxiety. The findings of the present study will provide important insights in finding important associations between trait and state variables in relation to psychopathology, providing an important foundation for further directional investigations with temporal data Hypothesis 1: Neuroticism measured with (BFI-10), positive metacognitions, negative metacognitions, and unhelpful coping strategies (the latter three measured with CAS-1), will predict higher levels of depression and anxiety. Research Question 1: How and to what extent are different traits related measured with BFI-10 related to depression and anxiety in the present pandemic sample? Research Question 2: Are the trait or state variables most strongly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms? This question will be investigated using part correlations in the multiple regression analyses.