Loneliness, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among Chinese adults during COVID-19: A cross-sectional online survey

• Published in: PloS one 2021-10, Vol.16 (10), p.e0259012-e0259012
• Main Authors: Xu, Zijun, Zhang, Dexing, Xu, Dong, Li, Xue, Xie, Yao Jie, Sun, Wen, Lee, Eric Kam-pui, Yip, Benjamin Hon-kei, Xiao, Shuiyuan, Wong, Samuel Yueng-shan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Anxiety; Anxiety disorders; Binge drinking; China; Chronic illnesses; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Depression, Mental; Epidemics; Fear; Health aspects; Health problems; Health risks; Infections; Loneliness; Low level; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Polls & surveys; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychological aspects; Psychological stress; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Risk perception; Signs and symptoms; Surveys; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259012

Objectives This study aims to investigate the potential factors associated with mental health outcomes among Chinese adults during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods This is an online cross-sectional survey conducted among Chinese adults in February 2020. Outcome measurements included the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3), two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), two-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-2), and two items from the Clinician-Administered Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale. COVID-19 related factors, physical health, lifestyle, and self-efficacy were also measured. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. Results This study included 1456 participants (age: 33.8±10.5 years; female: 59.1%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and PTSD symptoms were 11.3%, 7.6%, 38.7%, and 33.9%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, loneliness was associated with being single, separated/divorced/widowed, low level of education, current location, medication, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and going out frequently. Depression was associated with fear of infection, binge drinking, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and longer screen time. Anxiety was associated with more somatic symptoms and lower self-efficacy. PTSD symptoms were associated with more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, higher perceived risk of infection, fear of infection, and self-rated more negative influence due to the epidemic (p