Table 2.

The categories and sub-categories of the study.

Categories	Sub-categories
(1) Multiple emotions intertwined at the time of diagnosis	(1) Anxiety
	(2) Stressful panic
	(3) Facing the diagnosis calmly
(2) Multiple pressures during the hospitalization period	(1) Concerns about the disease
	(2) Unable to adapt to the ward environment
	(3) Worrying about future hardship
(3) Growth of positive illness experience during the isolation and observation period	(1) Sublimated outlook on life
	(2) Affirmation of the government's anti-epidemic policy
	(3) More concerned about their own health
(4) Adjustment after returning to society	(1) Stigma
	(2) Loss of previous living environment
	(3) Problems caused by nucleic acid testing
(5) Adaptation to social life	(1) Return to normal life
	(2) Avoidance of illness experience
	(3) Post-COVID-19 syndrome