Effects of information involvement on subjective well-being during public health emergencies: the mediating roles of emotional regulation and social support

Subjective well-being is an important criterion to measure the quality of individual life. Based on social support theory and emotional regulation theory, this research tests the effects of individual and environmental factors on subjective well-being during public health emergencies. 1,488 valid samples were collected through an online questionnaire survey. The results show that: (1) Individuals' perceived involvement of information related to public health emergency significantly influences their generalized anxiety and social media self-disclosure; (2) Generalized anxiety during public health emergency affects subjective well-being through emotional regulation and social expectation; (3) Social media self-disclosure during a public health emergency affects subjective well-being through social support and social expectation; (4) Social loneliness negatively moderates the effect of emotional regulation on subjective well-being, with lower loneliness strengthening this effect; (5) Social anxiety positively moderates the effect of social support on subjective well-being, with higher anxiety strengthening this effect. This study provides insights for the public to better cope with public health emergencies and improve their subjective well-being through adjusting their emotion and seeking social support.