Anxiety, well-being, and the moderating Role of hope among Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only taken a toll on individuals’ physical health, but has also caused immense psychological burden. People experienced uncertainty, fear of infection, distress, and grief, resulting to increased anxiety and diminished well-being. Despite these negative experiences, there have also been accounts of hope in overcoming the challenges during the pandemic. Considering the concurrent experience of anxiety and hope during the pandemic, this study intended to investigate the interaction between the two. Specifically, we examined whether the different locus-of-hope dimensions (internal, and external-family, peers, and spiritual hope) would buffer the impact of anxiety on well-being (psychological, social, and emotional well-being). Moderation analyses were conducted on data from a nationwide sample of 10,529 Filipino adults. Findings revealed that anxiety predicted lower psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Nevertheless, internal and external-spiritual hope were found to buffer the relationship of anxiety with all three dimensions of well-being; whereas external-family hope buffered the association of anxiety with social well-being. The study demonstrates the role of hope as an important protective psychological resource for individuals’ well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.