Emotional Contagion: How Stress in One Person Affects the Mood and Behaviour of Others
Abstract: Emotional contagion refers to the process through which people's emotions may be influenced by the emotional states and expressions of others. This study examined self-reported responses to stress in other people and explored their association with perceived stress. A quantitative, cross-sectional online questionnaire was completed between October 25 and 27, 2026. Of 33 submissions, 32 participants consented and were included in the emotional-response analysis; 31 had sufficient responses for the preliminary perceived-stress analysis. The questionnaire included 15 researcher-developed statements about responses to others' stress and 10 perceived-stress questions resembling the Perceived Stress Scale?10 (PSS-10). Descriptive results showed that 90.6% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they could sense stress in people around them, while 75.0% reported that stress in family, workplace, or educational settings affected their emotional well-being. An exploratory Spearman correlation indicated a positive association between the emotional-response composite and perceived-stress scores (rs = .526, p = .002, n = 31). This association must be interpreted cautiously because the emotional-response questionnaire was not validated and the exact perceived-stress instrument requires confirmation. Findings provide preliminary descriptive insight but do not establish causation.
Keywords: emotional contagion, stress, mood, emotional well-being, perceived stress
How to Cite?: Nisha Rawat, "Emotional Contagion: How Stress in One Person Affects the Mood and Behaviour of Others", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2023-2027, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261028185939, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261028185939