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.