The Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine caused the public mood index to go up significantly, as concluded in a study by mobile network operator Tele2.
Tele2 representatives say that the public mood index was measured using FaceTrace method, measuring emotional expressions on a scale of 0 to 3.
The higher the index, the higher the emotional intensity in society.
The range of emotions is very wide, and it includes anger, sadness, fear, happiness and contempt. There aren’t many people whose mood is neutral, the company reports.
FaceTrace method is based on the theory by American psychologist Paul Ekman, that there are seven constant and universal human emotional states – contempt, disgust, anger, fear, sadness, joy and surprise.
Results show that last year the public mood index was 0.59 point, which is more than it was in 2021 (0.52) and less when compared with 2020 (0.62). Tele2 commercial director Raivo Rosts explains that analysis of results reveals that public mood was affected significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There was also the growing inflation.
“At the same time, we can see emotion like happiness remaining very high, which indicates that there are residents whose optimistic mood is not affected much by anything.
The biggest mood swings are observed for residents who mostly feel neutral in their everyday life and then some strong shock shakes them up,” says Rosts.
He study is performed every Thursday. Approximately 1 200 respondents aged between 15 and 69 years are interviewed as part of it.
Also read: National Alliance worried New Unity may be working on a new government behind the scenes