Impact of restrictive COVID-19 measures on daily momentary affect in an epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong: An experience sampling study

Abstract

Restrictive COVID-19 measures can have significant mental health impacts, particularly on young people. How such measures may influence day-to-day momentary affect, nonetheless, remains to be explored. Experience sampling data were collected from 165 young people (aged 15–24) as part of a larger epidemiological youth mental health study in Hong Kong. We examined the impact of one of the most stringent COVID-19 measures – dine-in restrictions – on momentary positive and negative affect and current contexts and activities of these young people. The effects of a milder form of COVID-19 measure – school suspension – were separately examined. Multilevel analysis revealed that those in the dine-in ban group, compared to dining-as-usual, showed significantly reduced momentary positive affect ( β = −0.17, SE = 0.06, p = 0.003). Its effect remained significant even when accounting for baseline depressive and anxiety symptoms and socioeconomic status ( β = −0.15, SE = 0.05, p = 0.008). The effect of dine-in ban on reduced momentary positive affect was found specifically when participants were in indoor locations (e.g., home, office), alone, and engaged in passive leisure activities. This pattern was not observed when participants were at school or at other outdoor locations, with friends, or engaged in active leisure activities. No significant effect of school suspension on momentary affect was observed. More severe COVID-19 measures, such as dine-in ban, can have significant impacts on the momentary positive affect of young people. Certain contexts and activities may offer protection against the consequences of COVID-19 measures. The current findings may help to inform future designs of mental health interventions and public health policies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03183-y.

The impacts of physical activity on psychological and behavioral problems, and changes in physical activity, sleep and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic in preschoolers, children, and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…First the decreased participation in PA may elicit feelings of loneliness that negatively affect mental health (25). Second, restrictive measures during the pandemic may lead to social isolation and, hence, to psychological and behavioral problems (80). Those measures may also lead to less time participating in PA (81).…”

Prevalence, time trends, and correlates of major depressive episode and other psychiatric conditions among young people amid major social unrest and COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a representative epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022

“…Complementing these observations, we had previously reported the negative impacts of restrictive pandemic measures on mental health and the protective effects of active leisure activities. 42 It is also possible that these two factors could reinforce one another to further accentuate their impacts on mental health. 15 A further examination of their interactions and implications not only during COVID-19 but also the post-pandemic era would be worthwhile.…”

Excessive fear of clusters of holes, its interaction with stressful life events and the association with anxiety and depressive symptoms: large epidemiological study of young people in Hong Kong

“…Details of the HK-YES have been reported elsewhere. [18][19][20][21][22][23] Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, with consent obtained from parents or legal guardians for those below the age of 18. The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008.…”