Perceived Stress and Its Impact on Health Behavior of Chinese Residents during the Epidemic of COVID-19: An Internet Survey

Abstract

Background An outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19) could cause a severe respiratory illness, which may come from Spray or ordinary contact, then pose a great threat to life. Meanwhile, epidemic may trigger excessive stress and have a terrible impact on mental health even health behaviors, especially some special individuals. So this study paved the way for psychological interventions focused on specific groups during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods An internet survey was conducted on 2,449 residents in 20 provinces including Chongqing, Sichuan and Gansu et al, in order to collect the data of Chinese residents' perceived stress, COVID-19 awareness and health behaviors. SAS9.4 was used to analyze the relationship between health behaviors and perceived stress, and logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors of health risk stress. Results The residents' perceived stress score was 22.25±7.2(total score was 56), and the incidence of health risk stress was 39.89% (977/2449). As perceived stress increased, the frequency of health behaviors such as washing hands and wearing a mask decreased in turn. Age, cognition of susceptibility to COVID-19, life-threaten level, cognition of the importance of home isolation, and cognition of the difference between common cold and COVID-19 were related to the occurrence of health risk stress. Conclusions There was a negative correlation between residents' health behaviors and perceived stress during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is of great significance to improve the public's awareness of the COVID-19, to provide good social support and psychological intervention for people with health risk stress and to promote their health behaviors.

Perceived stress among university students in south-east Serbia during the COVID-19 outbreak

“…Study results are in line with recent studies which showed moderate levels of perceived stress among the student population [14,20,25] during the COVID-19 outbreak. For example, Sheroun et al [14] have found that the mean perceived stress score of the college student Nurses in Puna, aged 21-25, was 21.88 (± 4.30).…”

Perceived Stress Among University Students in South-East Serbia During the COVID-19 Outbreak

“…The study ndings suggest the mean perceived stress score of 20.43 (± 7.67), suggesting that students in our study showed a high stress level during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our results are similar to some studies [14,25].conducted in the world during current pandemic, but also higher than those obtained in others [20]. For example, Sheroun et al [14] have found that the mean perceived stress score of the college student Nurses in Puna, aged 21-25, was 21.88 (± 4.30).…”

“…For example, Sheroun et al [14] have found that the mean perceived stress score of the college student Nurses in Puna, aged 21-25, was 21.88 (± 4.30). Collecting the data about the perceived stress during the COVID-19 epidemic, an internet survey conducted among 2,449 residents in twenty Provinces of China, reports the strongest perceived stress of 23.87 (± 6.18) and 48.66% with students who were in the state of health risk stress [25].Son et al [20]reported the mean PSS score of 18.8 (± 4.9) among students, average age 20.7, indicating moderate perceived stress during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.…”

Predictors of Health Behaviors Among Undergraduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Predictive Study

“…26 Li et al 27 examined the relationship between health behaviors and perceived stress in Chinese residents; their results revealed that health behaviors were negatively associated with perceived stress, with 39.89% of residents at risk of stress. 27 Additionally, a factor that can predict health behavior in undergraduate students of this study was current faculty/ college. Students from science and health science schools had better health behaviors than those from humanities and social science schools.…”

“…Implementing health behaviors to protect oneself against COVID-19 can reduce students’ stress related to the disease. 26 Li et al 27 examined the relationship between health behaviors and perceived stress in Chinese residents; their results revealed that health behaviors were negatively associated with perceived stress, with 39.89% of residents at risk of stress. 27 …”