Gallery Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 7th IPPA World Congress 2021

Finding a new passion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Links with subjective wellbeing and mental health (#157)

Catherine Cimon-Paquet 1 , Anne Holding 2 , Virginie Paquette 1 , Alexandra Giroux 1 , Vincent Gosselin-Boucher 1 , Robert J. Vallerand 1
  1. Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
  2. Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

 

Background

Many people developed a new passion to cope with the isolation and lockdowns imposed by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some passions, however, were no longer possible to engage with during the pandemic (e.g., travel) and individuals had to let them go. The present studies investigated the effects of developing a new passion, engaging with a pre-existing passion, or disengaging from an unattainable passion on individuals’ wellbeing and mental health during the pandemic. The Dualistic Model of Passion posits that there are two types of passions: harmonious passions, which are well-integrated with other spheres of life, and obsessive passions, which are experienced as rigid and all-consuming activities (Vallerand, 2015).

Hypotheses/Research Questions

We conducted two studies to examine if positive and negative affect experienced during the activity mediated the links between the type of passion, subjective wellbeing, and depressive symptoms.

Sample Characteristics and Sample Size

Study 1 included 406 participants (171F; M age = 35.1) who pursued a pre-existing passion while developing a new passion during the pandemic. Study 2 included 289 individuals (129F; M age = 34.1) who had to let go of an unattainable passion but developed a new one.

Design

Passion, affect, disengagement, wellbeing and symptoms of depression were assessed by questionnaires in December 2020.

Results

Using structural equation modeling, Study 1 revealed that developing a new harmonious passion related to higher positive affect during the activity, which in turn, was associated with higher subjective wellbeing during the pandemic. In contrast, engaging with a new obsessive passion was positively associated with negative affect during the activity, which was positively associated with depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Study 2 replicated these associations and revealed that engaging with a new passion related to higher disengagement from the unattainable passion, which was associated with lower depressive symptoms.

Scientific Contribution

Together, these studies suggest that developing a harmonious passion during the pandemic benefitted individuals’ wellbeing and mental health. 


 

  1. Vallerand, R. J. (2015). Series in positive psychology.The psychology of passion: A dualistic model. Oxford University Press.
  • Keywords: Meaning and Purpose, Positive emotions