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The impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health in general population in different areas in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2020

Mao-Sheng Ran Open the ORCID record for Mao-Sheng Ran [Opens in a new window] ,
Ru Gao ,
Jing-Xia Lin ,
Tian-Ming Zhang ,
Sherry Kit Wa Chan ,
Xiao-Peng Deng ,
Bing-Zhi Zhang ,
Xin-Feng Zhang ,
Guo-Ping Huang  and
Dao-Shen Pu
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Mao-Sheng Ran*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Ru Gao
Affiliation:
Ya'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan 625000, China
Jing-Xia Lin
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Tian-Ming Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
Sherry Kit Wa Chan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Xiao-Peng Deng
Affiliation:
Jingzhou Mental Health Center, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China Institute of Mental Health of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China
Bing-Zhi Zhang
Affiliation:
Ya'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan 625000, China
Xin-Feng Zhang
Affiliation:
Jingzhou Mental Health Center, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China Institute of Mental Health of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China
Guo-Ping Huang
Affiliation:
School of Mental Health, North Sichuan Medical College, Sichuan 637000, China
Dao-Shen Pu
Affiliation:
Ya'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan 625000, China
Jing-Zhen Bai
Affiliation:
Ya'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan 625000, China
Liu-Xiu Xu
Affiliation:
Ya'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan 625000, China
Bo Liu*
Affiliation:
Jingzhou Mental Health Center, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China Institute of Mental Health of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, China
*
Author for correspondence: Mao-Sheng Ran, E-mail: msran@hku.hk; Bo Liu, E-mail: drliubo2011@163.com
Author for correspondence: Mao-Sheng Ran, E-mail: msran@hku.hk; Bo Liu, E-mail: drliubo2011@163.com
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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.

Keywords

COVID-19outbreakmental healthgeneral populationChina
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 52 , Issue 13 , October 2022 , pp. 2651 - 2660
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

First-authors: Mao-Sheng Ran, Ru Gao, and Jing-Xia Lin.

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