The power of feeling good: An ecological momentary  assessment study on how joy  relates to mental health in  students

Poor mental health in students is deemed to be the next global crisis due to the increasing number and severity of symptoms. It is even further amplified by the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many students are left alone and are not accommodated by their university, creating a vulnerable group to develop mental illnesses. However, joy as an intense and brief positive emotion may serve as a protective factor. Thus, this study aims to increase our understanding of the relationship between student mental health and the daily experience of joy. By utilizing an ecological momentary assessment for 15 days, 63 Dutch and international bachelor students enrolled at Leiden University were queried about their experience of their mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and joy. The data was interpreted by applying a network analysis that generates contemporaneous and temporal network models. The results illustrate that daily fluctuation of joy decreases subclinical...Show morePoor mental health in students is deemed to be the next global crisis due to the increasing number and severity of symptoms. It is even further amplified by the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many students are left alone and are not accommodated by their university, creating a vulnerable group to develop mental illnesses. However, joy as an intense and brief positive emotion may serve as a protective factor. Thus, this study aims to increase our understanding of the relationship between student mental health and the daily experience of joy. By utilizing an ecological momentary assessment for 15 days, 63 Dutch and international bachelor students enrolled at Leiden University were queried about their experience of their mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and joy. The data was interpreted by applying a network analysis that generates contemporaneous and temporal network models. The results illustrate that daily fluctuation of joy decreases subclinical measures of depression, anxiety, and stress within the same momentary assessment period on a contemporaneous level. On a temporal level, joy predicts future improvement of anhedonia, worrying, and relaxation, whereas worrying about the future predicts reduced joy. In accordance with prior literature, we conclude that joy may protect against future depressive symptoms and prevent the progression of anxiety. Additionally, joy may contribute to a stress-buffering effect. Bearing in mind the study’s limitations, future research should consider defining joy more precisely, capture the broad spectrum of mental health in EMA, and investigate joy's contribution to resilience.Show less

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The power of feeling good: An ecological momentary assessment study on how joy relates to mental health in students