I feel you: Prepandemic physiological synchrony and emotional contagion during COVID-19.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on mental well-being and interpersonal relationships. Nonetheless, little is known about the complex interactions between one's overall perceived interpersonal closeness and physiological or psychological aspects of interpersonal functioning. This study aimed to understand the interaction between perceived interpersonal closeness during COVID-19 and interpersonal mechanisms in predicting well-being. We focused on two interpersonal mechanisms, one physiological and the other psychological: (a) prepandemic physiological synchrony, a physiological measure of interpersonal coupling, and (b) peripandemic emotional contagion, one's tendency to "catch" others' emotions. One hundred fifty-five participants took part in the study. Cardiological interbeat interval synchrony was collected 1.5 to 3 years prior to the beginning of the COVID pandemic in two previous lab studies. Participants were recontacted during the pandemic, this time to complete several questionnaires tapping into perceived interpersonal closeness, tendency for emotional contagion, and psychological well-being during COVID. As hypothesized, overall perceived interpersonal closeness was positively related to well-being. Moreover, this effect was moderated by one's tendency for emotional contagion or by physiological synchrony. Thus, individuals with higher emotional contagion scores or higher physiological synchrony had higher well-being if their interpersonal closeness was perceived as greater. Conversely, their well-being was lower if they perceived their interpersonal closeness as weaker. These results emphasize that individuals may be differentially susceptible to the effects of their relationships on their well-being. Future mental health interventions should consider both the quality of one's perceived interpersonal closeness and the extent to which one is sensitive to others' emotional experiences.

The role of self-representation in emotional contagion

“…Furthermore, emotional contagion goes beyond mere mimicry. It involves a deeper level of self-involvement, where individuals share feelings with others, even for brief moments, strengthening their emotional connection ( Mariadhas, 2019 ; Mayo et al, 2023 ). This shared emotional experience can have great effects on individuals’ sense of self and their relationships with others.…”

Indices of The Autonomic Nervous System Predict Affect and Emotional Contagion, But Not Anxiety: A Two-Dimensional Autonomic Space Approach

“…EC is the automatic tendency to catch another's emotions (Hatfield et al, 1992;Hatfield et al, 1993;Mayo et al, 2022) and can be manifested as a demonstration of similar postural, vocal, or facial expression or as similar neurophysiological or neurological patterns of activity (Barsade 2002;Barsade, Coutifaris & Pillemer, 2018;Hatfield, Bensman, Thorton & Rapson, 2014;Hatfield et al, 1994;Hatfield, Raspon & Le, 2009;Schoenewolf, 1990;). EC is related to empathy, attunement, and bonding (Decety and Ickles, 2009;Hatfield et al, 1994;Hatfield et al, 2011;Neves et al, 2018;Spoors & Kelly, 2004), as well as to stress (Feldman & Kaal, 2007), and has been suggested to facilitate social interactions (Butler, 2011;Hatfield, Cacioppo, & Rapson, 1994).…”

“…Associations between EC and physiological synchrony had been suggested and demonstrated many times (Codrons et al, 2014;Dimitroff et al, 2017;Feldman, 2012;Feldman et al, 2011;Ferrer & Helm, 2013;Helm et al, 2014;Jaimovich, 2010;Karvonen et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2013;Mayo & Gordon, 2020;Mayo et al, 2022;Papp et al, 2009;Papp et al, 2013;Park et al, 2019;Saxbe & Repetti, 2010;Waters et al, 2017;Waters et al, 2014), yet the connection between EC as a trait and baseline physiological markers of the ANS remain largely unknown.…”

Unveiling gender differences in psychophysiological dynamics: support for a two-dimensional autonomic space approach

“…EC is the automatic tendency to catch another's emotions (Hatfield et al, 1992 , 1993 ; Mayo et al, 2023 ) and can be manifested as a demonstration of similar postural, vocal, or facial expression or as similar neurophysiological or neurological patterns of activity (Schoenewolf, 1990 ; Hatfield et al, 1994 , 2009 , 2014 ; Barsade, 2002 ; Barsade et al, 2018 ). EC is related to empathy, attunement, and bonding (Hatfield et al, 1994 , 2011 ; Spoor and Kelly, 2004 ; Decety and Ickles, 2009 ; Neves et al, 2018 ), as well as to stress (Feldman and Kaal, 2007 ), and has been suggested to facilitate social interactions (Hatfield et al, 1994 ; Butler, 2011 ).…”