This study examined the relationship between engagement in meaningful activities (EMA) and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the possible mediators of this relationship. Participants included 227 adults living in the United States who completed a web-based survey between 23 May 2020 and 25 August 2020. Results indicated that increased EMA was related to less distress and that meaning in life (MIL), but not social distancing stress, mediated this relationship. Our findings highlight the benefits of EMA in the context of a pandemic, and suggest that interventions that promote EMA may reduce distress by enhancing MIL.
Engagement in Meaningful Activities and Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic