The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world.

Although people with depression are stigmatized in many parts of the world, the negative prejudice and discrimination against individuals with depression may be particularly problematic for Chinese individuals. Previous attribution theory-guided studies indicate that reducing perceptions of controllability can indirectly increase willingness to provide social support to acquaintances and close others with depression through increased sympathy and reduced anger. Moreover, these studies indicate that strengthening beliefs regarding the temporary nature of depression indirectly increases willingness to provide support for close others but not acquaintances. Although these findings offer insight into how the harms of stigma can be reduced in the United States, it is unknown whether these results will generalize to the Chinese population. In the current study, participants from an urban city in China (N ϭ 302) were randomly assigned to think of a close other or an acquaintance experiencing depression and then respond to measures of affect and help provision (willingness to provide social support, willingness to provide general support, and desire for social distance). Moderated mediation analyses indicated that participants were significantly less sympathetic when they perceived depression as controllable and this effect was significantly stronger toward acquaintances. Additionally, sympathy was significantly lower when participants perceived their close other's depressive symptomatology as stable. This effect was not observed among participants who perceived their acquaintances' experience with depression as stable. Findings suggest that Weiner's attribution theory could be a useful framework in reducing stigmatization of depression in China, but interpersonal relationships should be taken into consideration.

Weiner's (1985) attribution theory explains how people interpret and react to causes of events. Perceived responsibility plays a central role in this model. Weiner (2006) considers perceived intentionality and controllability as crucial antecedents of perceived responsibility. Although perceived controllability has been assessed cross-culturally and cross-situationally, perceived intentionality has not received similar levels of attention among those assessing Weiner's model. The goal of the current research effort is to use Weiner's framework, with a focus on perceived controllability and intentionality, to explain responses to problematic behaviors associated with COVID-19. Recently, people who intentionally or carelessly transmitted the coronavirus have enraged the public. The current study reports on an experiment (N = 271) that successfully manipulated perceived intentionality and controllability using a Chinese sample in the context of spreading COVID-19 on an airplane. Perceived intentionality and controllability were empirically demonstrated as distinct attribution variables. Stronger perceptions of intentionality and controllability increased perceived responsibility, anger, and the desire to punish. Higher perceived controllability also decreased sympathy toward those who transmitted coronavirus. Furthermore, analyses revealed an interaction between perceived intentionality and controllability. Perceived controllability increased anger only when perceived intentionality was low; however, when intentionality was high, participants were angered regardless of perceived controllability. A path analysis supported the qualitative universality of Weiner's attribution theory. The current research illustrates the potential benefit of investigating perceived intentionality in attribution research. The utility and applicability of Weiner's attribution theory in the COVID-19 pandemic in a collectivistic culture were supported.

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies.

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