Associations between affect variability, mean affect, and mental health among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: The purpose of the study was to test whether associations between affect variability and mental health (i.e., anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, flourishing) differ by mean levels of affect during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: College students (N = 1883; M_age=19.81, SD = 1.33) completed a survey and 21 daily reports of affect (M = 19.41 surveys, SD = 4.19). We calculated mean affect and affect variability (i.e., standard deviation) from daily reports. Regression models then tested associations between positive and negative affect variability and mental health. Results: Participants with higher positive affect variability had higher anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and surprisingly higher flourishing. Higher negative affect variability was associated with poor mental health for individuals with low mean negative affect, and was associated with better mental health for individuals with high mean negative affect. Conclusion: Affect variability may simultaneously tax mental health for certain individuals and enable others to appreciate daily experiences and have better mental health.