Li Adrienne W Y, Chak W H, Yuen Kenneth S L
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Canada; York University, Toronto, Canada.
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of California Davis, United States.
J Affect Disord. 2021 Dec 1;295:883-892. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.111. Epub 2021 Sep 4.
Popular protests have broken out worldwide, particularly in the last few years. In 2019, numerous demonstrations against an extradition bill occurred in Hong Kong until pandemic restrictions were imposed. The policing response relied heavily on methods such as batons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Given the relevance for other geographical contexts, the current study investigated the mental health impacts on protest participants and spillover to community members.
Surveys were disseminated on social media in August and October 2019 to collect demographics, political views, protest participation, exposure to (protest-related) potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and mental health symptoms. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted using demographic data and inter-class differences in PTEs and mental health symptoms were examined.
There were 37,541 (59.8% female) and 40,703 (50.0% female) responses in August and October. Respondents, even those with low participation, reported significant levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms of traumatic stress (STS). The LCA suggested a 5-class solution (youth, allies, supporters, sympathizers, and frontliners). Mental health symptoms and PTEs varied with class membership, with 50.8% of frontliners reporting severe STS.
The non-random sampling and self-reported measures may over-estimate the prevalence of mental distress in the wider population.
Large numbers of pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong reported high rates of depression, anxiety and STS during mass protests. Younger and more heavily involved respondents faced the highest mental health risks, however elevated rates were also observed for respondents with low participation.
全球爆发了民众抗议活动，尤其是在过去几年。2019年，香港发生了针对一项引渡法案的多次示威活动，直至实施疫情防控限制措施。警方的应对措施严重依赖警棍、催泪瓦斯和橡皮子弹等手段。鉴于这与其他地区情况的相关性，本研究调查了抗议活动参与者的心理健康影响以及对社区成员的溢出效应。
2叭9年8月和10月在社交媒体上开展了调查，以收集人口统计学信息、政治观点、抗议活动参与情况、接触（与抗议相关的）潜在创伤性事件（PTE）情况以及心理健康症状。使用人口统计学数据进行了潜在类别分析（LCA），并检验了不同类别在PTE和心理健康症状方面的差异。
8月和10月分别有37541份（女性占59.8%）和40703份（女性占50.0%）回复。受访者，即使是参与度较低的人，也报告有显著程度的抑郁、焦虑和创伤应激症状（STS）。LCA显示有一个5类解决方案（青年、盟友、支持者、同情者和一线人员）。心理健康症状和PTE因类别成员身份而异其中50.8%的一线人员报告有严重的STS。
非随机抽样和自我报告的测量方法可能高估了更广泛人群中心理困扰的患病率。
香港大量支持民主的人士报告称，在大规模抗议活动期间抑郁、焦虑和STS的发生率很高。参与度更高的年轻受访者面临的心理健康风险最高，不过参与度较低的受访者也有较高的发生率。
