ABSTRACT
Purpose: We explored the prevalence of psychological distresses associated with Covid-19 and its correlates in elderly people. Methods: We utilized survey data that screened psychological distresses associated with Covid-19 in 1,485 elderly people aged 60 or more. The survey was conducted by a trained interviewer who visited the participants. The assessment comprised demographic variables and the six items on psychological distress associated with Covid-19 including stress from work, financial issues, stress from home, fear, apprehension, and helplessness due to Covid-19. Each item was rated on a 5-point scale (much increased, increased, same as before, decreased, and much decreased). Results: The proportion of participants who responded “increased” or “much increased” were high as 6.5% (N = 245) for work, 26.8% (N = 398) for money, and 30.2% (N = 449) for home, 68.8% (N = 1,023) for fear, 76.0% (N = 1,128) for apprehension, and 61.9% (N = 920) for helplessness due to Covid-19. Younger age and, having a current job were significantly associated with higher distress regarding work and financial issues. Low household income was also significantly associated with higher distress regarding financial issues. Low education level and having family members living together were associated with increased psychological distress relating to fear, apprehension, and helplessness due to Covid-19. Conclusion: Our findings correlating psychological distress associated with Covid-19 provides information for implementing an efficient strategy to improve public mental health in elderly people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Future studies utilizing validated assessment tools are needed to confirm these findings.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Objective: We tested a model of individual health literacy information sharing with family members, personal preventive behaviours and family well-being during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong. Methods: We analysed data of 1501 randomly selected Chinese adults from a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong from 9 to 23 April, 2020. Individual health literacy about COVID-19 with the items extracted from the questionnaire in World Health Organization Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Action Plan Guidance for COVID-19 preparedness and response, COVID-19 information sharing with family members, preventive behaviours against COVID-19 and family well-being were measured. Structural equation modelling analysis tested the proposed model. Findings: COVID-19 information sharing with family members partially mediated the association between individual health literacy and personal preventive behaviours. The direct effect of 0.24 was shown, and the indirect effect through COVID-19 information sharing with family members was small at 0.03 (Z = 3.66, p < 0.001). Family well-being was associated with personal preventive behaviours against COVID-19. The model was adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic status factors and had good fit with RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.96, and SRMR = 0.02. Conclusion: COVID-19 information sharing with family members was a partial mediator between individual health literacy and personal preventive behaviours against COVID-19. Strategies for enhancing health literacy and preventive measures against COVID-19 are needed to promote family well-being in the pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Objective: We tested a model of individual health literacy, information sharing with family members, personal preventive behaviours and family well-being during COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Methods: We analysed data of 1501 randomly selected Chinese adults from a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong from 9 to 23 April 2020. Individual health literacy, COVID-19 information sharing with family members, preventive behaviours against COVID-19 and family well-being were measured. Structural equation modelling analysis tested the proposed model. Findings: COVID-19 information sharing with family members partially mediated the association between individual health literacy and personal preventive behaviours. The direct effect of .24 was shown and indirect effect through COVID-19 information sharing with family members was small with .03 (Z = 3.66, p < .001). Family well-being was associated with personal preventive behaviours against COVID-19. The model was adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic status factors and had good fit with RMSEA = .04, CFI = .98, TLI = .96, and SRMR = .02. Conclusion: COVID-19 information sharing with family members was a partial mediator between individual health literacy and personal preventive behaviours against COVID-19. Strategies for enhancing health literacy and preventive measures against COVID-19 are needed to promote family well-being in the pandemic.