Evolution of mood states during the Covid-19 pandemic in Spain and its impact on happiness

  1. Pablo J. Contreras Contreras 1
  2. Pedro Cuesta Valiño 1
  3. Pablo Gutiérrez Rodríguez 2
  1. 1 Universidad de Alcalá
    info

    Universidad de Alcalá

    Alcalá de Henares, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04pmn0e78

  2. 2 Universidad de León
    info

    Universidad de León

    León, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02tzt0b78

Llibre:
A thousand ways to understand happiness in the economy of the European Union's "Next generation" funds: a comprehensive vision under the lens of social marketing, history and happiness management

Editorial: Comares

ISBN: 978-84-1369-420-7

Any de publicació: 2022

Pàgines: 115-137

Tipus: Capítol de llibre

Resum

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the subject of multiple analyses from various points ofview. An aspect that attracts special attention is the influence on emotional states, individuals' happiness, and its impact on expectations, habits, and attitudes at alllevels. However, few studies analyse the evolution ofthese aspects at different times of the pandemic and link them with the situational context of the analysis. It would allow us to take stock ofpeople's emotional states and the pandemic's impact on happiness. This article collects the results of 4 waves of surveys carried out at critical moments of the pandemic from the beginning until November 2021, when normality was almost restored. The analysis allows us to conclude that the emotional states have be en varying in line with the circumstances of each moment, the worst being that ofthe reactivation ofthe pandemic after the summer of2020. The general mood has improved a lot in November 2021, in a more favourable general context. It is evident in a majority group of people with above-average happiness leveis and a predominance of positive emotions over negative ones. An influential group of people is also identified. More than 17% of the total are especially vulnerable emotionally because ofthe situation, with low levels ofhappiness, minimal presence ofpositive emotions, and powerful negative emotions. It forces us to consider this issue as a priority in terms ofpublic policies to monitor and mitigate the effects ofthe pandemic on the emotional states of individuals.