NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: A man wearing a mask runs near a sign that says, "Keep this far apart" in Central Park as temperatures rise amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 3, 2020 in New York City. COVID-19 has spread to most countries around the world, claiming over 248,000 lives with over 3.4 million cases. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Catastrophes, by their very nature, are devastating events. However, they can also serve as catalysts for enduring positive change. A recent study led by Stanford University suggests that adopting this perspective can yield significant benefits, particularly in reducing depression following disasters.
In a randomized, controlled trial, a one-hour intervention was administered to a group of adults. This intervention aimed to shift their mindset regarding the experience of living through a catastrophe, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by highlighting potential growth opportunities. The results were promising: participants who received the intervention reported lower levels of depression three months later compared to a control group. Additionally, blood tests indicated reduced levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker associated with chronic stress and disease. These findings were published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Understanding the Impact of Mindset
“As much as we might wish to live untouched by trauma or catastrophe, the reality is that few of us are spared from such struggle,” remarked Alia Crum, the study’s senior author and an associate professor of psychology at Stanford. “The study was inspired by our desire to help people reflect on their experience of the pandemic with an eye on how it could help them grow.”
The research team, part of the Stanford Mind & Body Lab, conducted the study from October 2022 to February 2023. Participants were divided into two groups: a control group and an intervention group. The control group watched videos providing information about different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and answered questions to assess their knowledge. Meanwhile, the intervention group viewed videos demonstrating how mindsets can significantly influence health and well-being.
Growth Through Adversity
The intervention videos emphasized that people often experience personal growth after living through catastrophic events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Common areas of growth include a greater appreciation for life, increased resilience, stronger interpersonal relationships, deeper spiritual faith, and the pursuit of new opportunities. Following the video sessions, participants in the intervention group were encouraged to reflect on their current mindsets concerning the pandemic’s long-term impact and identify potential areas for personal growth.
Cultivating a growth-oriented mindset is distinct from blind optimism. The researchers stressed that participants were not encouraged to disregard the pandemic’s negative effects. “We tried to be very nuanced and balanced but also bring in the genuine, research-based evidence that there are specific positive changes that a lot of people do go through when they live through something like the pandemic,” explained Jesse Barrera, the study’s co-first author and former lab manager of the Mind & Body Lab.
Innovative Research Methods
The study’s methodology was also a product of adaptation to the pandemic. Conducted remotely, participants viewed the intervention videos at home and mailed in dried blood spot samples for analysis. “In a lot of ways, the methodology that we came up with for this study was actually only an opportunity because of COVID-19,” said Lexi Straube, a Stanford medical student and co-first author. “This approach opens the door for more accessible strategies that can reach people during future public health crises or in communities that don’t have access to traditional clinical trials.”
Broader Implications
While further research is necessary to replicate these findings across diverse populations, the results offer hope for individuals who have faced challenging or traumatic life events. “We would have liked to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it came regardless,” Crum noted. “In the post-pandemic era, we face a choice: We can let it recede into memory, leaving us depleted and disillusioned, or we can choose to look back, learn from it, and grow – both personally and collectively.”
This study underscores the potential for mindset interventions to foster resilience and psychological well-being in the aftermath of global crises. As the world continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such insights are invaluable in guiding recovery and growth on both individual and societal levels.
