From belief to resilience: mapping the longitudinal path of Traditional Paranormal Belief through optimism and Mental Toughness.

Authors

Neil Dagnall, Andrew Denovan, Robert Dempsey, Kenneth Graham Drinkwater, Álex Escolà-Gascón, Stephen Walsh

Published in

Frontiers in psychology. Volume 17. Pages 1856551. Epub Sep 28, 2026.

Abstract

Although researchers have traditionally focused on the irrational nature of paranormal belief (PB), contemporary perspectives suggest it can serve adaptive psychological functions, including meaning-making and perceived control. However, the mechanisms through which PB relates to positive psychological functioning remain unclear. Noting this, the present study examined whether Traditional Paranormal Belief (TPB) and New Age Philosophy (NAP) influenced stress and well-being indirectly via optimism and Mental Toughness.
The study used a multiple time point design. 1,032 United Kingdom adults were assessed across three waves spaced four to 6 weeks apart. Participants completed measures of PB (TPB, NAP), optimism, Mental Toughness, perceived stress, and hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being. Using longitudinal path analysis with bootstrapped indirect effects, analysis tested two three-wave autoregressive mediation models.
TPB (not NAP) predicted outcomes indirectly through a sequential pathway involving optimism and Mental Toughness. Specifically, TPB was associated with lower stress and higher hedonic well-being via these mediators. Direct effects of PB on outcomes were small and inconsistent. Across models, optimism positively predicted Mental Toughness, which predicted lower stress and higher levels of hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being.
Findings indicate that PB operates as a distal cognitive framework that influences psychological functioning through indirect pathways. In particular, TPB appears to foster optimistic appraisals and strengthen Mental Toughness, which support resilience and well-being over time. These results demonstrate that the psychological value of PB lies in its role in mobilising psychological resources rather than exerting direct effects on outcomes.

PMID:
42865616
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Oct 2026.

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