The residents' mental health status and community's role during COVID-19 epidemic : a community-based cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

BACKGROUND The related research of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic on mental health of community residents is still lacking. Here we reported the mental health status of Chinese residents as well as community’s prevention and control during the epidemic period of COVID-19, and further explored the influencing factors of mental status. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods were adopted from February16 to February 23, 2020 and Chinese community residents were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three questionnaires including General Anxiety Disorder 7(GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and a self-designed “Community prevention and control questionnaire” were used. A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze the impact factors of anxiety and depression. RESULTS A total of 3001 community residents were included in this study. 85.6% and 83.7% of participants had minimal anxiety and depression respectively. 16.6% of participants demonstrated that the communities they lived in had confirmed cases. 95.3% of participants reported that the residents were screened for mobility and contact history. 97.8% of participants reported entrance and exit of community were managed in their communities. 97.5% and 99% of participants were required to take body temperature and wear masks in their communities. 92% communities had their public areas and facilities disinfected every day and 95.4% communities have conducted health education about COVID-19. Factors including gender, education level, chronic illness, the frequency of going out, achieving information about COVID-19 by community and newspaper, and confirmed cases in the community, show association with community residents’ anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS the vast majority of Chinese residents have little anxiety and depression, and most communities had adopted standardized control measures in accordance with government’s regulations and policy which plays an important role in the control of COVID-19 and improving residents’ anxiety and depression.

Severe Mental Health Symptoms during COVID-19: A Comparison of the United Kingdom and Austria

“…The deteriorating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health became evident within the first few months of the pandemic [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. An increased risk of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders were observed not only among healthcare workers working with people with COVID-19 [20], but also in the general population, especially in females, people with previous mental health problems [21] and chronic conditions [22], with indications of increased depression and anxiety compared to pre-COVID-19 levels [23].…”