Page 10 - Accelerating Research and Impact - Issue 5

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Accelerating Research and Impact
Features
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Resilience crucial in tackling emotional stress
The coronavirus outbreak does not just affect citizens’ physical health. Many people are also concerned about the shortages of surgical masks, hygiene products and even food, causing them to search frantically for supplies. The long-term harm caused by these negative emotional outbursts may well be more severe than the virus itself. A research team led by Prof Oi Ling SIU, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Chair Professor of Applied Psychology and Director of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, is giving citizens tips on how to protect themselves against the disease and build up resilience and stay positive so as to fight the pandemic with sufficient psychological capital.
Prof Siu explains that physical health and mental wellbeing are closely interconnected. Immoderate negative emotions may affect people’s decisions and actions in implementing effective disease-prevention measures, and panic often induces irrational behaviours such as blind conformity and superstition. Therefore the long- term effects of negative emotions on psychological health may be even more severe than the virus itself. On the other hand, having strong psychological capital can greatly benefit physical and mental wellbeing.