The presentation introduces a new concept (psychological immunity) and a working model about the psychological immune system (PIS) which is defined as a multidimensional but integrated unit of personal resilience resources or adaptive capacities that provide immunity against damage and stress. Psychological lmmune Competence Inventory (PICI) with 16 scales was developed (Olah, 2000) for measuring the protective personality traits (psychological antibodies: Positive Thinking, Sense of Control, Sense of Coherence, Creative Self-concept, sense of self-growth, challenge orientation, Social Monitoring Capacity, problem-solving Capacity, Self- efficacy, Social Mobilizing Capacity, Social Creating Capacity, Syncronicity, Goal Orientation, lmpulse Control, Emotional Control, lrritability Control) which are integrated in the PIS.
The PIS with its 16 components acts as a protective apparatus which strengthens invulnerability and raises the coping capacity of individuals. A series of empirical studies (investigated sample consisted of 756 adult) will be presented about the relationship between psychological immunity (measured by PICI) ways of coping (measured by COPE, Carver et al. 1989), ego-resiliency (measured by Klohnen Ego-resiliency scale, 1996), and psychological well-being (measured by Ryff Scales of Psychological Well- Being, Ryff, 2006). Results confirmed that the level of psychological well-being and ego-resiliency are influenced by the psychological immunity of individuals. Adaptive ways of coping showed high correlation with the components of PIS. The research was supported by OTKA.
Recorded: October 2009, Dubrovnik - Cavtat, Croatia.
Coping & Resilience International Conference
Organiser: The Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice
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