The Differences of the Psychological Status of the Public Between Hubei Provinces and Other Provinces After the COVID-19 Outbreak: a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Assessing the psychological status of public from different areas after the COVID-19 outbreak in China and analyzing the risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey via online questionnaires was conducted. Occurrence of pressure, anxiety and depression were measured with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Results: The study included 3300 participants, with 1644 from Hubei and 1656 from outside Hubei. The rates of anxiety and depression among subjects from Hubei were 59.6% and 52.3%, while the corresponding rates for those outside Hubei were 44.4% and 46.6%. The scores of PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 in Hubei were significantly higher than those in other areas (t = 3.823, 5.860, 2.211; P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that among the participants from Hubei, the higher the educational background, the history of psychosis, the worse their physical health, the COVID-19 infected, isolated, and their families infected with the COVID-19, their mental health was relatively poor. In the participants outside Hubei, the more unstable their marriage status, the worse their physical health, isolated, and their families infected with the COVID-19, the worse their mental health level. Conclusions: The stress, anxiety, and depression of the public in Hubei are more prominent and the factors that affect their mental health are more complex. When conducting psychological intervention on the general public, we still need to formulate special intervention plans according to the different characteristics of different groups of people to provide them with appropriate crisis intervention services.