The impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being: Self-transcendence and neuroticism as mediators

Subjective well-being is crucial for human psychological and physical health. However, emotional reactions to unexpected events often lead to fluctuations in individual subjective well-being. In this study we examined the impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being and the mediating roles of self-transcendence and neuroticism. We surveyed 509 college students using the Unexpected Public Health Event Reaction Questionnaire, the General Well-Being Schedule, the Self-Transcendence Scale, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Results revealed emotional reactions to unexpected events were negatively correlated with both self-transcendence and subjective well-being, and positively correlated with neuroticism. Self-transcendence was positively associated with subjective wellbeing, while neuroticism was negatively associated with subjective well-being. This study elucidates the impact of emotional reactions to unexpected events on subjective well-being and their underlying mechanisms, providing an effective pathway for interventions to maintain subjective well-being and promote psychological health among individuals experiencing unexpected events.