The impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health in general population in different areas in China.
Psychol Med
; : 1-10, 2020 Dec 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2277703
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 ofparticipants:
(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.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychol Med
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S0033291720004717
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS