[Grammar] Em dash (2) -it’s made me more relaxed.

[yi-ing]

These days I am studying about the different uses of em dash.
What is the use of "em dash" here?

The color pink has been my favourite. I have developed a passion for this beautiful color. I like pink so much that I’ve had my bedroom painted pink. This has had a really soothing effect on me—it’s made me more relaxed.

Is the following equivalent with the sentence above?
This has had a really soothing effect on me and it’s made me more relaxed.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes.

 

[yi-ing]

May I ask what "it " refers to?
Why do the writer use "this" and "it"? I think both of them should be "this", because "this" refers to "the fact of painting the bedroom in pink".

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'it' refers to 'a really soothing effect'.

 

[GoesStation]

May I ask what "it " refers to?
Why do the writer use "this" and "it"? I think both of them should be "this", because "this" refers to "the fact of painting the bedroom in pink".

It would not be natural to use this again. This establishes that the sentence is about the previously-described activity; thereafter, it refers back to this.

 

[yi-ing]

It would not be natural to use this again. This establishes that the sentence is about the previously-described activity; thereafter, it refers back to this.

Thank you so much GoesStation. What a point! I didn't know about it. I was confused why the author used "it" instead of "this".
You have been a great help to me. I appreciate it. :up: