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The Costs of the COVID-19 on Subjective Well-Being: An Analysis of the Outbreak in Spain

Author

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  • Ana Blasco-Belled

    (Department of Psychology, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Claudia Tejada-Gallardo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Cristina Torrelles-Nadal

    (Department of Psychology, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Carles Alsinet

    (Department of Psychology, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak entailed radical shifts to individuals’ daily habits that challenged their subjective well-being (SWB). Knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on SWB is paramount for developing public policies to tackle mental health during health emergency periods. Decreases in life satisfaction are likely not only due to exposure to daily negative emotions but also due to hopelessness, fear, and avoidance of social interactions. We examined in a sample of 541 Spanish adults (1) reactions to the COVID-19 outbreak and (2) the mediating role of these reactions in the associations of hope and social phobia with life satisfaction through different levels of positive and negative affect. A moderated mediation analysis showed that the conditional indirect effect of hope and social anxiety on life satisfaction through information depended on the participants’ having high positive affect and low negative affect. Affect seems to be a mechanism that modulates the influence of individuals’ perception about COVID-19 on their life satisfaction. Those with high positive affect might see the “general picture” and search for adequate information as they avoid focusing on the problem and on specific information that precludes preventive behaviors. Having a positive affect might help individuals to adopt information-processing strategies during the COVID-19 outbreak that will improve their life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Blasco-Belled & Claudia Tejada-Gallardo & Cristina Torrelles-Nadal & Carles Alsinet, 2020. "The Costs of the COVID-19 on Subjective Well-Being: An Analysis of the Outbreak in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6243-:d:393951
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    2. Arpino, Bruno & LUPPI, FRANCESCA & Rosina, Alessandro, 2021. "Changes in fertility plans during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: the role of occupation and income vulnerability," SocArXiv 4sjvm, Center for Open Science.
    3. Grzegorz Ignatowski & Łukasz Sułkowski & Bartłomiej Stopczyński, 2021. "Risk of Increased Acceptance for Organizational Nepotism and Cronyism during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-35, March.
    4. Vallejo-Borda, Jose Agustin & Giesen, Ricardo & Basnak, Paul & Reyes, José P. & Mella Lira, Beatriz & Beck, Matthew J. & Hensher, David A. & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2022. "Characterising public transport shifting to active and private modes in South American capitals during the COVID-19 pandemic," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 186-205.
    5. Aarthi Raghavan & Mehmet Akif Demircioglu & Serik Orazgaliyev, 2021. "COVID-19 and the New Normal of Organizations and Employees: An Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Felix Bittmann, 2022. "How Trust Makes a Difference: The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Satisfaction in Germany," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(3), pages 1389-1405, June.
    7. Rafael E. Reigal & José A. Páez-Maldonado & José L. Pastrana-Brincones & Juan P. Morillo-Baro & Antonio Hernández-Mendo & Verónica Morales-Sánchez, 2021. "Physical Activity Is Related to Mood States, Anxiety State and Self-Rated Health in COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-10, May.

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