Does Affect Influence Coping Styles among People from North India During the Pandemic? Implications for Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Does affect influence coping styles among people from North India during the COVID pandemic? This study investigates how affective state influences the coping styles of people from North India and to examine its impact on psychological well-being. Coping styles, PA, negative affect, and psychological well-being of the sample (n=220; 105 males (46%) and 115 females (53.5%)) (Mean Age= 30.75) (SD= 15.36 years) were analysed during the pandemic. Coping styles were assessed using the Coping Scale (Hamby, Grych, & Banyard, 2013), psychological well-being was assessed using the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff and Keyes, 1995) and affect was evaluated using The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson, Clark, & Tellengen, 1988). The findings revealed that coping was positively related to psychological well-being but negatively related to Negative Affect (NA). Positive Affect (PA) was positively related to psychological well-being but negatively related to coping. Additionally, significant differences were seen in the PA and negative affect of males and females. Implications of psychological well-being are further discussed.