The Chinese government’s online crisis communication during health crises and emotional impact on users

This study explores how Chinese official crisis messaging on the People's Daily Weibo account shapes public emotions. It addresses gaps in earlier research, which overlooked peer dynamics, shifting sentiments, and nuanced emotion measurement. A review of 82 English-language publications reveals that scholars routinely tie public reactions directly to state crisis management, though feelings also center on event severity, culpable actors, victims, heroes, and nationalism. Examining the 2018 substandard vaccine scandal, the thesis shows that the government curbed negative emotions by foregrounding its own actions, downplaying the crisis, and shifting blame to firms and local officials.