Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation and mental health: relationships with self-esteem, dispositional optimism and coping

In two online studies, we test whether spontaneous self-affirmation (measured by the Spontaneous Self-Affirmation Measure, SSAM) predicts better mental health and coping role that self-esteem dispositional optimism play in these relationships. Study 1 (N = 110) was cross-sectional. study 2 192) collected measures one month post-baseline. Consistent with pre-registered hypotheses, SSAM predicted less anxiety, depression avoidant coping, greater wellbeing non-avoidant coping; however, relationships involving varied reported source of measured (strengths, values, social relations). Overall, findings are generally consistent hypothesis tends to function as a resource fosters positive threats.