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. 2023 Sep 19:14:1211614.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211614. eCollection 2023.

Emotions, COVID-19 related thoughts and satisfaction with life during the critical period from control to relaxation

Chunting Diao  1 , Huiping Tan  1 , Yanhui Wen  1 , Ruiyue Zhu  1 , Xiaoyue Wu  1 , Shiqi Zhang  1 , Yongzhi Zhao  1 , Nian Liu  1 , Xuan Zhou  1 , Zhen Hu  1
Affiliations

Emotions, COVID-19 related thoughts and satisfaction with life during the critical period from control to relaxation

Chunting Diao et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Introduction: In the context of declining mortality rates and increasing infectivity, it has become unavoidable for the majority of individuals to experience a COVID-19 infection at some point. This study aimed to investigate the psychological well-being of the general population during China's transition period from strict control measures to relaxed policies in COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as the impact of COVID-19 related thoughts on emotion and life satisfaction during widespread infections.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a sample size of 1578 participants. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing positive and negative emotions, thoughts about COVID-19, and satisfaction with life. Demographic characteristics such as sex, age, and education level were controlled for in the analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that individuals who had been infected with COVID-19 (specifically the Omicron variant BA.5.2 or BF.7) reported lower levels of positive emotions compared to those who were uninfected or had recovered from the infection. There was a significant relationship between COVID-19-related thoughts, emotions, and life satisfaction. Positive COVID-19 related thoughts were found to mediate the relationship between negative emotions and satisfaction with life.

Discussion: This study represents a comprehensive examination conducted in China, focusing on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population during the critical transition period from control to relaxation. Throughout this period, the number of infections experienced fluctuations, initially rising but eventually declining over a one-month span. In such a momentous historical period, maintaining a positive perspective on COVID-19 and its management becomes paramount in enhancing the emotional well-being, life satisfaction and overall well-being of individuals.

Keywords: COVID-19 related thoughts; coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); emotion; negative emotion; positive thought; satisfaction with life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The mediation effect of positive thoughts on the association between positive emotion and satisfaction with life. ***p < 0.001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The mediation effect of positive thoughts on the association between negative emotion and satisfaction with life. ***p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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