ИСТИНА

The study aimed to analyze the influence of two groups of individual characteristics: personal traits and self-regulation features on attitudes and perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sample consisted of 1362 Russian-speaking respondents (age 36.5 ± 11.0 yrs, 82% females). The survey was conducted online from April to December 2020. The set of traits was made up of indicators measured by the HEXACO inventory (“Honesty”, “Emotionality”, “Extraversion”, “Agreeableness”, “Consciousness”, “Openness”) and self-regulation indicators were determined by the SSI (Self-Steering inventory): “Self-regulations”, “Self-control”, “Volition”, “Self-access”, “Sense of threat”. The variable “Psychological distress” was used as a mediator. Aspects of perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: “The threat of the pandemic”, “Control of the pandemic”, “Suspense” were used as dependent variables. Two path models were built. In the first one, the six traits were used as independent variables and in the second model, five self-regulation features were used as independent variables. In the first model, it was found that “Extraversion” and “Agreeableness” are factors of protection, and “Emotionality” is a factor of risk of negative feelings, emotions, and fears. In the second model, which establishes a link between self-regulation and perceptions of a pandemic, it is revealed that “Self-determination” performs the function of protection. “Cognitive self-control” increases “Psychological distress”, “Suspense”, and “The threat of the pandemic”. At the same time, an ambivalent effect of “Cognitive self-control” on “Control of the pandemic” was established: a positive direct effect and a negative indirect effect through the mediator. It was shown that the second model fits the empirical data significantly better. Based on this result we can conclude that the role of self-regulation in perception, experiencing, and coping with the pandemic is more important in comparison with personality traits. [The study was funded by Grant of RSСF 21-18-00624.]