Emotion networks across self-reported depression levels during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

During stressful circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, disturbances in emotional experiences can occur. These emotional disturbances, if not relieved or regulated, can be associated with feelings of depression. Currently, little is known about which emotional experiences (positive and negative) are associated with feelings of depression during COVID-19. This study aimed to estimate and compare mixed, positive and negative valence emotion networks during COVID-19 for low, moderate and high levels of self-reported depression. Across 26,034 participants, central emotional experiences included gratitude, sadness, fear, anxiety, compassion, and being moved for all self-reported depression levels; love for low levels of depression, and confusion for high levels of depression. The strongest edges included fear-anxiety, loneliness-boredom, anger-disgust, determination-hope, and compassion-being moved for all self-reported depression levels; calm-relief, and sadnessfrustration for high levels of self-reported depression; and admiration-being moved for low and moderate self-reported depression levels. Network comparison tests showed mixed, positive and negative emotion networks significantly differed in structure across all selfreported depression levels. Network connectivity was also significantly stronger for low selfreported depression within positive and negative emotion networks. These networks provide key information on emotional experiences associated with depression during COVID-19.

Emotions and Coping: “What I Feel about It, Gives Me More Strategies to Deal with It?”

“…This structure reveals that the negative dimension explains more variance in the results and includes emotions and affective states such as scared, frightened; fear; and tormented, as adaptive responses to a threat. These types of emotions and feelings have been identified in other studies [4,5] and are related to distress and depression responses to COVID-19 [42]. Emotional and affective states, such as insecurity, nervousness, apprehension, despair, and preoccupation, probably related to the categorization of this threat as uncertain, unknown, and uncontrollable, also appear, in accordance with findings from other studies [8,9,34].…”

“…Emotional and affective states, such as insecurity, nervousness, apprehension, despair, and preoccupation, probably related to the categorization of this threat as uncertain, unknown, and uncontrollable, also appear, in accordance with findings from other studies [8,9,34]. Sadness and frustration as negative emotions have also been related to distress and depression during COVID-19 [42]. Perceived vulnerability to a health threat, intolerance to uncertainty, and the experience of negative emotions can be accentuated by individual differences [4].…”

Mapping network connection of comorbidity of depression and anxiety symptoms among firefighters exposed to traumatic events: Insights from a network analysis.

“…In this study, we found that confusion-psychomotor retardation was the most significant symptom association in the depression network of firefighters. Previous research has shown that confusion is associated with high levels of depression (Whiston et al, 2022), while psychomotor retardation is a symptom of impaired executive function (Schrijvers et al, 2008). It is possible that the mutual relationship between these two symptoms, in which psychomotor retardation can exacerbate confusion and vice versa, may contribute to the negative impact on executive functions such as psychomotor function in individuals with depression.…”

Distress, wellbeing, and growth amidst COVID‐19: Considering the dynamic interplay between positive and negative anticipatory emotions

“…Overall, our hypothesis was supported: higher positive anticipatory emotions attenuated the adverse psychological outcomes that arose from higher levels of negative anticipatory emotion (i.e., higher psychological distress and lower personal wellbeing). Evidence from emerging studies suggests that during COVID‐19 the experience of ‘mixed emotions’, that is, simultaneous experience of both negative and positive emotions, is common (Sun et al., 2021; Whitson et al., 2022). Our study findings extend this research by suggesting that this experience can be protective against higher psychological distress and lower wellbeing.…”

“…The experience of mixed emotions is often characterized by negative emotion rising against a background of generally positive emotion (e.g., Barford et al., 2020; Trampe et al., 2015). However, during times of stress (including COVID‐19), negative emotions tend to be more prevalent (Whitson et al., 2022). Emotion theorists have hypothesised that, while it is appropriate to experience negative emotions in stressful circumstances, better regulation and resilience can be achieved by also experiencing positive emotions appropriate to the situation (Larsen et al., 2003).…”