The impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health in general population in different areas in China. Issue 13 (10th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ran, Mao-Sheng; Gao, Ru; Lin, Jing-Xia; Zhang, Tian-Ming; Chan, Sherry Kit Wa; Deng, Xiao-Peng; Zhang, Bing-Zhi; Zhang, Xin-Feng; Huang, Guo-Ping; Pu, Dao-Shen; Bai, Jing-Zhen; Xu, Liu-Xiu; Liu, Bo
• Is Part Of: Psychological medicine. Volume 52:Issue 13(2022)
• Page Start: 2651
• Page End: 2660
• Publication Date: 2022-10-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- outbreak -- mental health -- general population -- China; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1017/S0033291720004717
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2917

Abstract

Abstract: Background: This study aimed to explore the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health status in general population in different affected areas in China. Methods: This was a comparative study including two groups of participants: (1) general population in an online survey in Ya'an and Jingzhou cities during the COVID-19 outbreak from 10–20 February 2020; and (2) matching general population selected from the mental health survey in Ya'an in 2019 (from January to May 2019). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used. Results: There were 1775 participants (Ya'an in 2019 and 2020: 537 respectively; Jingzhou in 2020: 701). Participants in Ya'an had a significantly higher rate of general health problems (GHQ scores ⩾3) in 2020 (14.7%) than in 2019 (5.2%) ( p < 0.001). Compared with Ya'an (8.0%), participants in Jingzhou in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of anxiety (SAS scores ⩾50, 24.1%) ( p < 0.001). Participants in Ya'an in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of depression (SDS scores ⩾53, 55.3%) than in Jingzhou (16.3%) ( p < 0.001). The risk factors of anxiety symptoms included female, number of family members (⩾6 persons), and frequent outdoor activities. The risk factors of depression symptoms included participants in Ya'an and uptake self-protective measures. Conclusions: The prevalence of psychological symptoms has increased sharply in general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. People in COVID-19 severely affected areas may have higher scores of GHQ and anxiety symptoms. Culture-specific and individual-based psychosocial interventions should be developed for those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak.