The impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being: Self-transcendence and neuroticism as mediators
Yudi Ding
Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal April 2, 2025 DOI: 10.2224/sbp.14182 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 509 |
| Population | College students |
| Measures | Unexpected Public Health Event Reaction Questionnaire, General Well-Being Schedule, Self-Transcendence Scale, NEO Five-Factor Inventory |
| Key findings | Emotional reactions to unexpected events were negatively correlated with self-transcendence and subjective well-being and positively correlated with neuroticism; self-transcendence was positively associated with well-being and neuroticism negatively associated with it. The authors propose that self-transcendence and neuroticism mediate the link between emotional reactions and subjective well-being. |
Abstract
Subjective well-being is crucial for human psychological and physical health. However, emotional reactions to unexpected events often lead to fluctuations in individual subjective well-being. In this study we examined the impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being and the mediating roles of self-transcendence and neuroticism. We surveyed 509 college students using the Unexpected Public Health Event Reaction Questionnaire, the General Well-Being Schedule, the Self-Transcendence Scale, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Results revealed emotional reactions to unexpected events were negatively correlated with both self-transcendence and subjective well-being, and positively correlated with neuroticism. Self-transcendence was positively associated with subjective wellbeing, while neuroticism was negatively associated with subjective well-being. This study elucidates the impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being and their underlying mechanisms, providing an effective pathway for interventions to maintain subjective well-being and promote psychological health among individuals experiencing unexpected events.