Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the covid-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges to psychological well-being, but how can we predict when people suffer or cope during sustained stress? Here, we test the prediction that specific types of momentary emotional experiences are differently linked to psychological well-being during the pandemic. Study 1 used survey data collected from 24,221 participants in 51 countries during the COVID-19 outbreak. We show that, across countries, well-being is linked to individuals’ recent emotional experiences, including calm, hope, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness. Consistent results are found in two age, sex, and ethnicity-representative samples in the United Kingdom (n = 971) and the United States (n = 961) with preregistered analyses (Study 2). A prospective 30-day daily diary study conducted in the United Kingdom (n = 110) confirms the key role of these five emotions and demonstrates that emotional experiences precede changes in well-being (Study 3). Our findings highlight differential relationships between specific types of momentary emotional experiences and well-being and point to the cultivation of calm and hope as candidate routes for well-being interventions during periods of sustained stress

Emotional experiences and psychological wellbeing in 51 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Momentary emotional experiences constitute a key ingredient of psychological wellbeing. Here, we examine the role of emotional experiences for wellbeing during the prolonged stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 1 compared the relative importance of emotional experiences for wellbeing before versus during the pandemic using pre-registered analyses with representative samples. Negative emotional experiences were more detrimental and positive emotional experiences less protective for wellbeing during the pandemic. Study 2 examined the role of specific emotional experiences for wellbeing during the pandemic using survey data from 24,221 participants in 51 countries. Momentary feelings of calm, hope, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness were, across countries, central to wellbeing. These results were replicated in pre-registered studies with representative samples and in a diary study. These findings highlight the particular role of momentary emotional experiences for wellbeing during prolonged stress, and point to specific types of momentary emotional experiences as prime candidates for wellbeing interventions