Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
J Med Internet Res. 2021 May 17;23(5):e24412. doi: 10.2196/24412.
The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has adversely affected the mental health of the public. The prevalence of anxiety among the public has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are few studies evaluating the effects of positive psychological responses and information-seeking behaviors on anxiety experienced among social media users during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study evaluated the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors among WeChat users in mainland China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From February 10 to February 24, 2020, a nationwide, web-based cross-sectional survey study was carried out using convenience sampling. Participants' levels of anxiety, positive psychological responses, and information-seeking behaviors were assessed. The survey was distributed among WeChat users via the WeChat smartphone platform. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with anxiety.
This study found that the prevalence of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item [GAD-7] scale score ≥7) among WeChat users in China was 17.96% (446/2483) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that information-seeking behaviors such as cannot stop searching for information on COVID-19, being concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, and spending more than 1 hour per day consuming information about the pandemic were found to be associated with increased levels of anxiety. Additionally, participants who chose social media and commercial media as the primary sources to obtain information about the COVID-19 pandemic were found more likely to report anxiety. Conversely, participants who were confident or rational about the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to report anxiety.
This study found that positive psychological responses and information-seeking behaviors were closely associated with anxiety among WeChat users during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. It might be paramount to enhance mental well-being by helping people respond to the COVID-19 pandemic more rationally and positively in order to decrease symptoms of anxiety.
COVID-19 在全球范围内的迅速爆发对公众的心理健康产生了不利影响。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，公众的焦虑患病率急剧上升。然而，很少有研究评估积极的心理反应和信息寻求行为对 COVID-19 大流行期间社交媒体用户所经历的焦虑的影响。
本研究评估了 COVID-19 大流行早期中国大陆微信用户的焦虑患病率及其相关因素。
2020 年 2 月 10 日至 2 月 24 日，采用便利抽样方法进行了一项全国性的基于网络的横断面调查研究。评估了参与者的焦虑程度、积极的心理反应和信息寻求行为。通过微信智能手机平台向微信用户分发调查。采用卡方检验和多变量逻辑回归分析来检验与焦虑相关的因素。
本研究发现，在中国 COVID-19 大流行早期，微信用户的焦虑患病率（7 项广泛性焦虑障碍量表[GAD-7]评分≥7）为 17.96%（446/2483）。多变量逻辑回归分析结果显示，信息寻求行为，如无法停止搜索 COVID-19 信息、对 COVID-19 大流行感到担忧以及每天花费超过 1 小时消费有关大流行的信息，与焦虑程度增加有关。此外，选择社交媒体和商业媒体作为获取 COVID-19 大流行信息的主要来源的参与者更有可能报告焦虑。相反，对 COVID-19 大流行感到自信或理性的参与者不太可能报告焦虑。
本研究发现，在中国 COVID-19 大流行期间，积极的心理反应和信息寻求行为与微信用户的焦虑密切相关。通过帮助人们更理性和积极地应对 COVID-19 大流行，增强心理健康可能至关重要，以降低焦虑症状。
