Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: The role of stigma and appraisals

Objectives . This study examines perceived and anticipated stigma toward infected people, threat and impact appraisals of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as distressing personal experiences related to the virus in order to determine the extent to which they directly and indirectly predict hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Investigated experiences included exposure to COVID-19 related news, having being in close proximity to people with a COVID-19 diagnosis or with COVID-19 like symptoms, having being sick or having suffered COVID-19 like symptoms, having tested negative for COVID-19. Methods. Adults from northern Italy (n=326; M age=29.86) provided cross-sectional data through an online survey during the nationwide lockdown period. Structural equation modeling analyses were conducted. Results . Perceived an anticipated stigma, exposure to COVID-19 news, perceived threat and impact on material resources access were negatively and indirectly related to both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being via perceived COVID-19 psychological impact which served as a mediator. Perceived stigma was also directly and negatively related to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, whereas having tested negative for COVID diagnosis was positively and directly associated with eudaimonic well-being. Conclusions . COVID-19 related stigma and appraisals can impair positive feelings about life as well as the pursuit of self-realization and the search for meaning in life. The findings highlight the importance of developing psychological preventive and rehabilitative interventions to help people cope with these risk factors.