The effect of exposure to COVID-19 on life satisfaction: The mediating role of hyperarousal and moderating/mediating role of affective forecasting

Abstract

BackgroundAs a global trauma event, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hugely impacts people's mental health and well-being. The purpose of our study is threefold: first, investigate the relationship between exposure to COVID-19 and life satisfaction among a large sample in China; second, test the mediating role of hyperarousal in the association between exposure to COVID-19 and life satisfaction; third, explore the moderating/mediating role of affective forecasting in the association between hyperarousal and life satisfaction. MethodThe current study recruited 5546 participants to complete a set of self-report questionnaires online from April 22, 2020 to April 24, 2020. The moderated mediation and chain mediation model analyses were conducted using the SPSS software and PROCESS macro program. ResultsExposure to COVID-19 negatively predicted life satisfaction (Effect = −0.058, p < 0.001). This relationship was partially mediated by the hyperarousal level (Effect = −0.018, CI = [−0.024, −0.013]). The moderating role of forecasted positive affect (PA)/forecasted negative affect (NA) between hyperarousal and life satisfaction was significant (β = 0.058, CI = [0.035, 0.081]; β = 0.037, CI = [0.014, 0.06]). The chain mediating effect of hyperarousal and forecasted PA/forecasted NA on the relationship between exposure to COVID-19 and life satisfaction was also significant (Effect = −0.003, CI = [−0.004, −0.002]; Effect = −0.006, CI = [−0.008, −0.004]). LimitationsThe cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. ConclusionGreater exposure to COVID-19 was associated with more severe hyperarousal symptoms, decreased life satisfaction. Forecasted PA and forecasted NA could moderate and mediate the negative impact of hyperarousal on life satisfaction. The moderating/mediating role of forecasted PA/NA implied that future interventions targeting at improving affective forecasting and reducing hyperarousal might be helpful to improve life satisfaction during the post-COVID-19 era.