Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major burden and a leading cause of death worldwide. Comorbidities such as gastroesophageal reflux, arrhythmia, musculoskeletal disorders and cancer affect the quality of life of COPD patients. Psychological factors, such as disease perception, active coping with the disease, anxiety and depression may also affect daily activities and quality of life. This cross-sectional study surveyed 86 patients from rural Sichuan in China who had grade 1-3 COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease scale in order to clarify the relationship of psychological factors with daily activities and quality of life. Respondents filled out the following questionnaires: the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (as an assessment of disease perception), Utrecht Proactive Coping Competence Questionnaire (active coping), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (anxiety and depression), the Modified Medical Research Council Scale (dyspnea), the Functional Performance Inventory-Short Form (daily activities) and the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (quality of life). Linear regression was used to explore potential relationship of these psychological factors with daily activities and quality of life. Active coping (β=-0.696, P<0.001) was related to less restricted daily activities, and better quality of life was associated with better disease perception (β=0.680, P<0.001) and lower anxiety (β=0.479, P<0.001). These results suggest that appropriate psychological interventions may benefit COPD patients, which deserves further investigation.