This study examines the emotions expressed on Sina Weibo by the public, government, and media during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Using data from 67,689 public posts, 36,740 government posts, and 126,988 media posts, the researchers employed a vector autoregression model and Granger causality analysis. Results show predominantly positive emotions across all three groups, with government emotions significantly influencing media emotions, which then impact public emotions. The study extends agenda-setting theory by incorporating emotional contagion and highlights the potential for government and media to shape public sentiment during crises.
Publisher
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
Published On
Nov 08, 2023
Authors
Shuhuan Zhou, Xiaokun Yang, Yi Wang, Xia Zheng, Zhian Zhang
Tags
COVID-19
emotions
Sina Weibo
government influence
media
public sentiment
emotional contagion
Related Publications
Explore these studies to deepen your understanding of the subject.
