What does not Kill me Makes me Stronger : The Relationship between Depression History, Character Strengths and Coping Strategies

Studies using western samples suggested a strong correlation between the recovery from psychological or physical illness and greater character strengths. The present study was interested in whether recovery from depression would also be associated with higher strengths among Chinese. Besides, given that coping deficits are closely linked with depression, the present study also aimed to explore the mediation of strengths between depression recovery and improved coping. Based on self-report screening measures, participants were selected from a pool of over 200 college students and divided into three groups, 43 “currently depressed”, 32 “recovered from past depressive episodes”, and 40 “without a history of serious depressive episodes”. All participants completed the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. The recovered group reported higher scores on certain cognitive and affective strengths as compared with the other two groups. Strengths including love, gratitude, hope, forgiveness, bravery, and love of learning mediated the link between depression recovery and coping strategies.