Abstract
Background: COVID-19 not only threatened the public's physical health but also brought unbearable psychological pressure, especially for those vulnerable groups like the elderly. However, studies on the psychological status of older adults during this public health emergency remained scant. This study aims to investigate the mental health status among the elderly Chinese population during COVID-19 pandemic and determine the influencing factors of psychological symptoms.Methods: From February 19 to March 19, 2020, an online survey was administered to Chinese older adults using a convenience sampling method. Information on demographic data, health status and other epidemic related factors were collected. Specifically, the study defined the psychological status as five primary disorder–depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety, and hypochondria–which were assessed by the Psychological Questionnaire for Emergent Event of Public Health (PQEEPH). Standard descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data.Results: Of 1,501 participants recruited from 31 provinces in China, 1,278 were valid for further analysis. Participants' scores on each sub-scale were described in median and interquartile [M(Q)]: depression [0.00 (0.33)], neurasthenia [0.00 (0.40)], fear [1.00 (0.83)], anxiety [0.00 (0.17)], hypochondria [0.00 (0.50)]. Chronic diseases (depression p = 0.001; neurasthenia p < 0.001; fear p = 0.023; anxiety p < 0.001; hypochondria p = 0.001) and the BMI index (depression p = 0.015; neurasthenia p = 0.046; fear p = 0.016; anxiety p = 0.015; hypochondria p = 0.013) had significant impacts on all of the five sub-scales. Specifically, the rural dwellers had a higher level of neurasthenia, fear, and hypochondria. Besides, education level (p = 0.035) and outbreak risk level (p = 0.004) had significant impacts on the depression. Higher household monthly income per capita (p = 0.031), and the community-level entry/exit control (p = 0.011) are factors against anxiety.Conclusions: Most elderly residents reported mild negative emotions during COVID-19 and more attention should be paid to the recognition and alleviation of fear. Our findings also identified factors associated with the mental health status of the elderly, which is of practical significance in the design and implementation of psychological interventions for this vulnerable population during COVID-19 and future emerging diseases.
Highlights
In late December 2019, atypical pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was found in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, China, and the disease quickly spread all over China and several overseas regions
This study aimed to assess the psychological status among the elderly Chinese population during COVID-19 pandemic by quantifying their degree of depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety, and hypochondria and to analyze the potential risk factors associated with these symptoms
This web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 19, 2020 to March 19, 2020, during which COVID-19 cumulative confirmed cases steadily increased and communitywide COVID-19 prevention activities were launched by local health authorities
Summary
In late December 2019, atypical pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was found in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, China, and the disease quickly spread all over China and several overseas regions. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus and formally named the disease COVID-19 [1]. China has witnessed a rapid increase of COVID-19 confirmed cases from 202 of January 20, 2020 to 74,283 of February 19, 2020. As of February 28, 2021, the disease has affected 220 countries and regions, causing over 113 million confirmed cases and over 2.5 million deaths worldwide [4]. Studies on the psychological status of older adults during this public health emergency remained scant. This study aims to investigate the mental health status among the elderly Chinese population during COVID-19 pandemic and determine the influencing factors of psychological symptoms
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