ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic, and the associated high rates of morbidity and mortality have made individuals susceptible to mental health problems that affect their psychological well-being. Although individual strengths can shield the negative impact of adverse conditions, their protective role in the context of COVID-19 has not received much attention. This study examines the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health via rumination through the lens of hope as a personal psychological strength. This study employed a two-wave longitudinal design. Data was collected from 412 Indian participants with a time interval of three months and analyzed using a two-step approach to structural equation modelling. Fear of COVID-19 was found to a have negative effect on mental health through rumination. However, results from moderation analysis support the role of hope as a buffer against the indirect negative impact of fear of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes. As one of the first studies to demonstrate the role of psychological strengths of individuals in coping with the direct and indirect psychological ramifications of COVID-19 over a period of time, it contains important implications for the development of mental health interventions in the face of this global crisis.