Changing trends of mental and behavioral responses and associations during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: a panel study

Abstract

This prospective observational study examined changing trends in mental and behavioral responses, and their association with perceived risk, severity, self-efficacy and isolation status during the Chinese COVID-19 epidemic. There were five waves of interviews. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric test methods were used for data analysis. Participants numbered 150 for the linkable baseline survey and 102 completed all 5 survey waves and were included in the analysis. Mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle manifested a statistically significant downwards trend across the total period of this panel study. The number of reported new confirmed patients perceived high risk and perceived severity were positively associated with mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle. Self-efficacy was negatively associated with each type of mental and behavioral response. The more time people were confined to their home, the more serious the emotional and lifestyle problems. Dose-response relationships were noted between the number of reported new confirmed patients and mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle during the five observation points. This study yielded new information about mental and behavioral responses among Chinese people during the COVID-19 epidemic. Policy changes and health education are essential for minimizing the adverse health effects of these responses.

Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health

“…The COVID-19 infection represents a strong stress stimulus, which has the capacity to induce high levels of perceived risk, fear, and anger, while forced quarantine at home may provoke an experience of boredom and loneliness, eliciting negative mental and behavioral responses in people [1]. It seems that the more time people remained at home, the more intense the resulting mental, emotional and lifestyle problems [2]. This situation has disrupted life and consequently altered multifaceted lifestyle behaviors.…”

Geriatric Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing the Health Crisis

“…[85][86][87] It has been reported that the time people are confined at home is coordinated with the high incidence of mental disorders. 88 In particular, the prolonged stress and sadness may increase the vulnerability for those living with mental disorders and precipitate the preexisting psychiatric conditions. 89,90 Furthermore, social disconnection places the elderly at higher risk of cognitive impairments with increasing trend of mortality.…”

Tobacco consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and pharmacokinetic interaction involving cytochrome P-450 with psychoactive drugs: an integrative review

“…Factors associated with mental stress, emotional state, and lifestyle: number of new confirmed patients reported in China [β = 0.008 (p<0.01), 0.009 (p<0.01) and 0.006 (p<0.05), respectively]; perceived high risk [β = 2.341 (p<0.01), 0.153 (p<0.01) and 0.043 (p<0.05), respectively]; perceived severity [β= 0.972 (p<0.01), 0.820 (p<0.01) and 1.903 (p<0.01). Yang et al, 2021. The longer people were confined in their homes, the worse their emotional and lifestyle status was [β = 0.027 (p<0.05) and 0.024 (p<0.05)].…”