Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Sep 18, 2020
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Apr 20, 2021
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Psychological Responses and Information Seeking Behaviors Influence Anxiety of the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mainland China: Survey Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world has induced in considerable adverse influence on the mental health of the public. Measurement of anxiety, psychological responses and information seeking behaviors is crucial to protect and improve the mental health of the public.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and the associated factors among the public of mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
From February 10 to April 8, 2020, the cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was carried out online in mainland China. Anxiety was measure by Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7). Psychological responses and information seeking behaviors were measured by self-developed questionnaire. Questionnaires were distributed to the public via the Wenjuanxing smart phone platform. Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associated factors of anxiety.
Results:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥7) among the public in China was 446/2484 (17.95%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that being fearful, being nervous, spending time consuming on the information about the COVID-19 pandemic increased anxiety. Conversely, being rational was associated less with anxiety.
Conclusions:
High levels of anxiety among the public during the COVID-19 pandemic should be emphasized. Promotion of mental well-being should be provided to decrease the degree of anxiety.Governments and news media should take the responsibilities to control the sources and quality of health information in order to prompt positive psychological responses and healthy behaviors among the public. Future research on health of the public after prolonged anxiety from the COVID-19 pandemic is warranted.
Citation
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Copyright
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