Background: quality of life is impaired in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating effects of self-efficacy, coping, depression, and anxiety on the quality of life of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study trial. This study aims to enroll 100 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire; BIPQ), coping styles (Carver Brief-COPE scale; B-COPE), depression Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ,PHQ-9),anxiety (The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, GAD 7) and quality of life (12-item Short Form Health Survey,SF12) will be analysed. This study intends to use correlation analysis and mediation analyses to assess the mediating effects of self-efficacy, coping, depression and anxiety on the quality of life of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 18-75 years;
2. AF diagnosis, based on a 12-lead ECG and cardiologist-led examination following the 2016 ESC Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation
3. paroxysmal AF diagnosis given by a cardiologist according to the conversion back to the normal sinus rhythm occurs spontaneously within a week
4. ability to read and write in Chinese.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. severe complications such as unstable coronary artery disease, heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction(ejection fraction≤35%)
2. AF soon after thoracic surgery;
3. malignant disease with a 1-year survival rate or a terminal illness diagnosis;
4. a diagnosed psychiatric condition that interfered with participation (including severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic illness of any type, dementia, acute suicidality, severe personality disorder)
5. participation in another study
6. cognitive impairment interfering with their ability to participate in the study

Patients are from the Department of Cardiology and Department of Psychiatry, a comprehensive tertiary hospital in China. All patients who are interviewed provided written informed consents.