COVID-19 pandemic fatigue and its sociodemographic and psycho-behavioral correlates: a population-based cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

Abstract

Pandemic fatigue is a growing public health concern of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its widespread mass media coverage, systematic empirical investigations are scarce. Under the Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, we conducted online and telephone surveys amid the pandemic in February to March 2021 to assess self-reported pandemic fatigue (range 0–10) in Hong Kong adults (N = 4726) and its associations with sociodemographic and psycho-behavioral (high vs low to moderate) variables. Data were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population. Binary logistic regression models yielded adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for high pandemic fatigue (score ≥ 7) for sociodemographic and psycho-behavioral variables. 43.7% reported high pandemic fatigue. It was less common in older people (55–64 years: aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.39–0.82; 65 + years: 0.33, 0.21–0.52) versus age group 18–24 years, but more common in those with tertiary education (1.36, 1.15–1.62) versus secondary or below. High pandemic fatigue was positively associated with depressive symptoms (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.55–2.17), anxiety symptoms (1.87, 1.58–2.20), loneliness (1.75, 1.32–2.31), personal fear of COVID-19 (2.61, 2.12–3.23), family fear of COVID-19 (2.03, 1.67–2.47), and current alcohol use (1.16, 1.00–1.33), but negatively associated with self-rated health (0.79, 0.68–0.92), personal happiness (0.63, 0.55–0.72), personal adversity coping capability (0.71, 0.63–0.81), family adversity coping capability (0.79, 0.69–0.90), family well-being (0.84, 0.73–0.97), family communication quality (0.86, 0.75–0.98), and frequent home exercise (0.82, 0.69–0.96; versus less frequent). We first used a single-item tool to measure COVID-19 pandemic fatigue, showing that it was common and associated with worse mental health, lower levels of personal and family well-being and alcohol use.

Family context as a double-edged sword for psychological distress amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the mediating effect of individual fear and the moderating effect of household income

“…We conducted the FamCov-1 in May 2020 when the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak was under control to assess individual attitudes, concerns, behaviors, and personal and family well-being, including fear ( 37 ), COVID-related information sharing ( 41 ), and delay in doctor consultation ( 36 ). Based on the FamCov-1, we conducted the second phase survey FamCov-2 in March 2021 when the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak was under control to assess the longer-term responses to the pandemic, including anti-epidemic fatigue and confidence ( 16 ), and adversity coping ( 42 ). The inclusion criteria of participants were those who (1) were Hong Kong residents aged 18 years or above, (2) could read or communicate using Cantonese, and (3) had landline or mobile telephone numbers or email accounts to contact.…”

“…The survey design and methods have been published ( 16 , 42 , 43 ). Specifically, this survey used a combination of probability and non-probability sampling methods.…”

“…As Hong Kong follows the “dynamic-zero” policy to minimize COVID-19 cases as much as possible ( 14 ), the general population are highly subject to the pandemic fatigue ( 15 ). Emerging evidence in Hong Kong has shown consequences of anti-epidemic fatigue, including lower adherence to control measures and depressive and anxiety symptoms ( 16 , 17 ). However, like two sides of the same coin, anti-epidemic fatigue impedes the mitigation of the pandemic ( 18 ) while anti-epidemic confidence promotes the compliance with control measures ( 19 ).…”

Responding to uncertainty: examining Hong Kong parents’ perceptions of private tutoring through the lens of timescapes (Responder ante la incertidumbre: un análisis de las percepciones parentales de las clases privadas en Hong Kong a través de la lente de los cronopaisajes — timescapes)

“…Our findings should have some transferability to other times of crisis causing widespread schooling disruptions, with the caveat that they offer a snapshot of a specific phase within a longer period of uncertainty. Indeed, we collected our data during an ebb of school restrictions and some of the views expressed could conflict with later experiences informed by 'pandemic fatigue', more widespread in early 2022 following Hong Kong's fifth COVID-19 wave (Leung et al, 2022). In addition, the limited number of participants from the lowest income categories is a notable limitation, as these parents would have been among the social groups most negatively affected by the pandemic.…”

Recurrent COVID-19 Waves and Lockdown: Impact on Daily Life and Mental Health of People in Nepal

“…Recurrent waves of COVID-19 with a new variant induced the public with COVID-19 pandemic fatigue which might pose a serious threat on adherence to protective behaviors [64]. The study recommends the government to give more attention to the aforementioned vulnerable 9 Mental Illness groups of the population and implement stringent policies to lower the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms [65].…”