The relationship between mental health and perceived social support with the post traumatic growth model through the mediating role of coping strategies in COVID-19 recovered patients

Background and aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is viewed as a traumatic incident that impacts many aspects of a person’s life. The present study aimed to investigate the association of perceived social support and mental health with the post-traumatic growth model through the mediating role of coping strategies in COVID-19 recovered patients. Methods: This study was conducted using a path analysis method from the correlation matrix. The study population included all COVID-19 recovered patients in Golestan province, Iran. Using the convenience sampling method, 300 patients who recovered from COVID-19 were selected. The study instruments included the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling using SPSS and AMOS version 25. Results: The findings revealed that the suggested model fit the data. The relationship of post-traumatic growth, perceived social support, and mental health with problem-focused coping strategies was positive and significant (P 0.01). Likewise, the relations of mental health and perceived social support with post-traumatic growth were positive and significant. Post-traumatic growth and perceived social support had a negative and significant relationship with emotion-focused strategies (P 0.01). However, the relationship between mental health and emotion-focused strategies was not significant. Conclusion: Mental health, perceived social support, and problem-focused strategies played an essential role in COVID-19 patients’ posttraumatic growth. As a result, they might help minimize the psychological impact of COVID-19.