Dataset Information

Civil unrest, COVID-19 stressors, anxiety, and depression in the acute phase of the pandemic: a population-based study in Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To examine the joint associations of civil unrest and COVID-19 with probable anxiety and depression during the first half of 2020 in Hong Kong. Associations were compared between persons with low or high assets.

Methods

A population-representative sample of 4011 Hong Kong Chinese residents aged 15 years or older were recruited between February and May 2020. Respondents reported current anxiety and depressive symptoms, unrest stress, COVID-19 stress, assets (savings and home ownership), and demographics.

Results

Stress due to unrest and COVID-19 was associated with higher prevalence of probable anxiety and depression; persons with both stressors had higher prevalence. This pattern was consistent among persons with low or high assets, but the probabilities of mental disorder were substantially higher among persons with fewer assets.

Conclusions

The effect of stressors on probable anxiety and depression are cumulative: persons with stress due to civil unrest and to COVID-19 reported more mental disorders than persons with stress due to only one, or none of these factors. Overall high assets appear to buffer the consequences of stressors, lowering the risk of mental disorder.

SUBMITTER: Hou WK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7884208 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Civil unrest, COVID-19 stressors, anxiety, and depression in the acute phase of the pandemic: a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Hou Wai Kai WK Lee Tatia Mei-Chun TM Liang Li L Li Tsz Wai TW Liu Huinan H Ettman Catherine K CK Galea Sandro S

Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 20210216 8

<h4>Purpose</h4>To examine the joint associations of civil unrest and COVID-19 with probable anxiety and depression during the first half of 2020 in Hong Kong. Associations were compared between persons with low or high assets.<h4>Methods</h4>A population-representative sample of 4011 Hong Kong Chinese residents aged 15 years or older were recruited between February and May 2020. Respondents reported current anxiety and depressive symptoms, unrest stress, COVID-19 stress, assets (savings and hom ...[more]

PMID: 33590313

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Project description:ImportanceWith rapid urbanization, understanding the role of residential environments in the development of depression has gained importance. However, the potential associations of residential space and density with depression have been understudied.ObjectiveTo investigate longitudinal associations of residential livable space and density with depression.Design, setting, and participantsThis longitudinal cohort study used data from 2 waves of the FAMILY Cohort, a population-based cohort in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, recruited between February 28, 2009, and March 28, 2011, at baseline and followed up between August 3, 2011, and June 19, 2013, at wave 2. Data were analyzed from September 1, 2020, through August 10, 2021. A total of 16 968 participants aged 16 years or older underwent assessment using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and had complete data across all variables.ExposuresResidential density was objectively assessed at 3 scales (within apartment, building block, and at neighborhood level) at baseline and follow-up.Main outcomes and measuresDepressive symptoms were defined in terms of a PHQ-9 threshold greater than or equal to 5 and probable major depression with a cutoff value greater than or equal to 10. A continuous PHQ-9 score was used as a secondary outcome. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine associations of the residential density with probable major depression and depressive symptoms adjusted for time-varying sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and other environment variables.ResultsOf the 16 968 participants with complete data, the mean (SD) age was 45.5 (16.7) years, and 9328 participants (55.0%) were women at baseline. The mean follow-up was 2.2 years (range, 1.3-3.6 years). At the household level, after full adjustments, each IQR increment in residential livable area was associated with lower odds of probable major depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71-0.98; P = .03) and depressive symptoms (aOR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00; P = .04). At the building-block level, each IQR increment in block density was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22; P = .03), but only in single-housing environment models. The results remained consistent in models with continuous PHQ-9 evaluation.Conclusions and relevanceThis study's findings suggest that residential livable space and block density may play a role in the development of depression. Integrated mental health and housing policies promoting mental capital in cities, such as health-optimized density at the household and building-block levels, might serve as a population approach to reduce the burden of depression.

Dataset Information

Civil unrest, COVID-19 stressors, anxiety, and depression in the acute phase of the pandemic: a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Civil unrest, COVID-19 stressors, anxiety, and depression in the acute phase of the pandemic: a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Similar Datasets

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