Nonattachment is Associated with Positive Belief in Humanity and Life and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals' well-being across the globe. Despite increased mental health risks due to local and global uncertainties during the pandemic, nonattachment may mitigate these deleterious effects by fostering a positive belief in humanity and life in the face of this unprecedented adversity. The aim of the study was to examine the sequential relationships of nonattachment to positive belief in humanity and life during the pandemic, which may potentially mediate the association between nonattachment and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic over the course of 6 months.MethodA total of 336 Chinese participants aged 18 to 38 years old completed questionnaires measuring nonattachment, positive belief in humanity and life during COVID-19 pandemic, eudaimonic well-being, hedonic well-being, and psychological distress at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.ResultsFindings from structural equation modeling showed that higher levels of nonattachment at baseline were associated with stronger positive belief in humanity and life during the pandemic 3 months later, which in turn was positively associated with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being and negatively associated with psychological distress another 3 months later.ConclusionsThe study provides some insights on how nonattachment may be conducive to well-being through association with positive belief in humanity and life under unprecedented life circumstances.PreregistrationThis study is not preregistered.