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Evaluation on potential detriments from lockdown-related isolation to mental health among school-aged youth in central China (preprint)
researchsquare; 2022.
Preprint in English | PREPRINT-RESEARCHSQUARE | ID: ppzbmed-10.21203.rs.3.rs-1423289.v1
ABSTRACT

Background:

Home isolation is a generally effective strategy for coronavirus disease control during lockdown periods. This study is to determine the potential adverse consequences of home isolation to mental health among school-aged youth after lifting of major lockdown measures in central China.

Methods:

This cohort study assessed the mental health of school-aged children and adolescents enrolled in Wuhan city and nearby areas in Hubei province, China, from July 1 to August 31, 2020. Post-lockdown responses to anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed in online questionnaire-based surveys. Participants’ scores for the Zung self-rated anxiety scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the self-rating scale of sleep and the post-traumatic stress disorder self-rating scale (PTSS) were analyzed.

Results:

 Questionnaire responses of 730 school children were collected. Among the participants, 6.25% of them had scores above thresholds for PTSS, 5.81% had anxiety, and 48.84% had depression. All subjects reported that they experienced sleep disturbances. Subjects who had anxiety might have a high risk for developing depression [OR 16.07, p =0.008, 95%CI (2.08-123.94)] and PTSS [OR 12.97, p <0.001, 95%CI (5.41-31.11)]. Both depression [OR 17.35, p =0.006, 95%CI (2.28-131.87)] and PTSS [OR 14.18, p <0.001, 95%CI (6.00-33.47)] were risk factors for developing anxiety among participants. Interestingly, higher educational levels of primary caregivers were a risk factor for developing depression [OR 1.62, p =0.005, 95%CI (1.16-2.28)] in the participants, but a protective factor against PTSS [OR 0.47, p =0.048, 95%CI (0.23-0.99)].

Conclusions:

 The local youth had less than expected degree of increases in their self-reported PTSS and anxiety, after exiting lockdown-related isolation. As a result of a combination of compensatory mechanisms including internet-based home-schooling and increased intra-familial interactions, home isolation did not affect the mental health of local school-aged youth to an extent as great as expected.Trial registration The Registration number of this trial is ChiCTR2000033054.

Full text: Available Collection: Preprints Database: PREPRINT-RESEARCHSQUARE Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Preprint

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Full text: Available Collection: Preprints Database: PREPRINT-RESEARCHSQUARE Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Preprint