TY - JOUR
T1 - The emergence of COVID-19 over-concern immediately after the cancelation of the measures adopted by the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China
AU - Hao, Fengyi
AU - Zhang, Zhisong
AU - Lau, Sam S.S.
AU - Chiang, Soon Kiat
AU - Zhou, Dewen
AU - Tan, Wanqiu
AU - Tang, Xiangdong
AU - Ho, Roger
N1 - The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research/project is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (ST12030-MajorProjects 2021ZD0201900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82120108002, 82170099, 82170100), the National University of Singapore iHealthtech Other Operating Expenses (A-0001415-09-00), and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project no. UGC/IDS(R) 23/20). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Hao, Zhang, Lau, Chiang, Zhou, Tan, Tang and Ho.
PY - 2024/1/5
Y1 - 2024/1/5
N2 - Background: This study aimed to report the prevalence of COVID-19 over-concern and its associated factors after the relaxation of the health-protective measures in China. Methods: A team of seven experts in psychiatry and psychology specializing in COVID-19 mental health research from China, Hong Kong, and overseas reached a consensus on the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Individuals had to meet at least five of the following criteria: (1) at least five physical symptoms; (2) stocking up at least five items related to protecting oneself during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) illness anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (5) post-traumatic stress symptoms; (6) depression; (7) anxiety; (8) stress and (9) insomnia. An online survey using snowball sampling collected data on demographics, medical history, views on COVID-19 policies, and symptoms of COVID-19 over-concern. Multivariate linear regression was performed using significant variables from the previous regressions as independent variables against the presence of COVID-19 over-concern as the dependent variable. Breush-Pagan test was used to assess each regression model for heteroskedasticity of residuals. Results: 1,332 respondents from 31 regions in China participated in the study for 2 weeks from December 25 to 27, 2022, after major changes in the zero-COVID policy. After canceling measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy, 21.2% of respondents fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Factors significantly associated with COVID-19 over-concern were poor self-rated health status (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), concerns about family members getting COVID-19 (β = 0.06, p < 0.001), perceived usefulness of COVID-19 vaccine (β = 0.03, p = 0.012), impact on incomes, employment and studies (β = 0.045, p < 0.001) and impact on families (β = 0.03, p = 0.01). Conclusion: After removing measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China, approximately one-fifth of respondents met the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern.
AB - Background: This study aimed to report the prevalence of COVID-19 over-concern and its associated factors after the relaxation of the health-protective measures in China. Methods: A team of seven experts in psychiatry and psychology specializing in COVID-19 mental health research from China, Hong Kong, and overseas reached a consensus on the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Individuals had to meet at least five of the following criteria: (1) at least five physical symptoms; (2) stocking up at least five items related to protecting oneself during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) illness anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (5) post-traumatic stress symptoms; (6) depression; (7) anxiety; (8) stress and (9) insomnia. An online survey using snowball sampling collected data on demographics, medical history, views on COVID-19 policies, and symptoms of COVID-19 over-concern. Multivariate linear regression was performed using significant variables from the previous regressions as independent variables against the presence of COVID-19 over-concern as the dependent variable. Breush-Pagan test was used to assess each regression model for heteroskedasticity of residuals. Results: 1,332 respondents from 31 regions in China participated in the study for 2 weeks from December 25 to 27, 2022, after major changes in the zero-COVID policy. After canceling measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy, 21.2% of respondents fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Factors significantly associated with COVID-19 over-concern were poor self-rated health status (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), concerns about family members getting COVID-19 (β = 0.06, p < 0.001), perceived usefulness of COVID-19 vaccine (β = 0.03, p = 0.012), impact on incomes, employment and studies (β = 0.045, p < 0.001) and impact on families (β = 0.03, p = 0.01). Conclusion: After removing measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China, approximately one-fifth of respondents met the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern.
KW - anxiety
KW - China
KW - COVID-19
KW - depression
KW - dynamic zero-COVID
KW - illness anxiety
KW - overconcern
KW - stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183083409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1319906
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1319906
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38249361
AN - SCOPUS:85183083409
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1319906
ER -
