Impact of perceived severity on depression, anxiety, and insomnia among Chinese community residents during the COVID-19 lockdown

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BACKGROUNDDepression, anxiety, and insomnia were found out that were significant relevance to the mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown.AIMTo examine the interrelationships among perceived severity, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and sense of security in Chinese community residents during the COVID-19 lockdown period.METHODSParticipants were selected using simple random sampling from four large gated communities in Chengdu, China. All participants were invited to complete a survey that included the Perceived Severity Questionnaire, Security Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, and Insomnia Severity Index-7. In total, 568 valid questionnaires were gathered. Correlation analysis and structural equation models were used to explore the relationship between perceived severity, sense of security, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.RESULTSThe observed prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia among residents during lockdown were 27.5%, 17.6%, and 16.0%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that both perceived severity and sense of security were positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and insomnia [Pearson’s r was perceived severity and anxiety r = 0.44 (P < 0.01); with depression r = 0.48 (P < 0.01); with insomnia r = 0.43 (P < 0.01); security with anxiety r = -0.65 (P < 0.01); with depression r = -0.65 (P < 0.01); with insomnia r = -0.53 (P < 0.01)]. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap tests revealed that sense of security acted as a significant mediator in the relationship between perceived severity and emotional and sleep disorders (anxiety, depression, and insomnia).CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that sense of security is a significant predictor of emotional and sleep disorders (namely, depression, anxiety, and insomnia) among residents during the COVID-19 lockdown, with sense of security acting as a mediating factor. These findings suggest that mental health interventions for Chinese community residents during lockdowns may benefit from developing community-based educational programs to reduce perceived severity and ensuring the stable supply of essential resources and promoting social support networks to enhance the sense of security.