The Disparity of Culture Vicissitudes in Happiness, Mental Health and Parental Bonding During Coronavirus Disease 2019 between Changchun and Taiwan

Abstract

Background: The consequence of quarantine might have increased the emotional distress during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. Parental bonding plays an important role in the developing of emotional problems. Hence, this study tried to compare the difference of parental bonding in the developing of mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Changchun of China and Taiwan.Methods: Total of 191 healthcare workers in Changchun area of China, and 458 healthcare workers in Taiwan, including 374 healthcare workers in two general hospitals and 84 in psychiatric center were recruited in this study.Findings: The findings showed that the healthcare workers tend to have more maternal affectionate constraint features in Changchun, compared to those with more maternal affectionless control features in Taiwan. Linear regression analysis showed the maternal affectionate constraint have contributed to the developing of mental health problems, and maternal affectionate constraint and maternal optimal bonding to developing of happiness in Changchun; comparing gender, hospital type and maternal optimal bonding have impact to the developing of mental health problems, and age, gender, hospital type, paternal optimal bonding and maternal affectionless control to the developing of happiness in Taiwan. SEM model also verified better mental health and maternal affectionate constraint have mainly contributed to the developing of happiness in Changchun.Interpretation: In conclusion, Changchun and Taiwan presented different kinds of parental bonding. Even in different culture vicissitudes, the maternal caring seems to be the unique contributing factor in developing of mental health problem and happiness, whether in Changchun or Taiwan, and, whether in 2003 SARS or 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study may provide the references to policy-maker and prevention programs in the community. Further larger sample size with follow-up studies have to be considered to verify the role of parental bonding in the developing of resilience, emotional distress and suicidal ideation.Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: None to declare. Ethical Approval: The Institutional Review Board of the Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital in Taiwan approved the study (KAFGHIRB 108-037).