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Mental Health during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hong Kong Study

Author

Listed:
  • Pik-Kwan Cheung

    (Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Joseph Wu

    (Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Wing-Hong Chui

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

This study addressed the impact on mental health and wellbeing in relation to views of the self, the world, and the future during the early stage of the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. An online survey battery included the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Subjective Happiness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Adult Hope Scale, and two specifically-written items measuring the valence quality and quantity of the impact of the pandemic. A total of 345 Hong Kong residents (54% females) responded; 17.1%, 24.7%, and 19.7% reported elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The prevalence of these issues was lower in this Hong Kong sample than reported in other COVID-19 studies, possibly due to the past experience of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Hong Kong in promoting the voluntary wearing of masks in public places and introducing social distancing measures during the early first wave of the pandemic. Correlational analyses showed associations between positive views about the self (higher self-compassion), the world (higher positive valence), and the future (more hope) and better mental health and psychological wellbeing (fewer depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms; more happiness). Regression analyses indicated a differential predicting power of the three views on the four selected mental health and psychological wellbeing indicators. Intervention programs to alleviate distress and/or promote better wellbeing should be matched to the specific problems encountered by the sufferers.

Suggested Citation

  • Pik-Kwan Cheung & Joseph Wu & Wing-Hong Chui, 2022. "Mental Health during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hong Kong Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:8957-:d:869733
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    3. Chan Hellman & Megan Pittman & Ricky Munoz, 2013. "The First Twenty Years of the Will and the Ways: An Examination of Score Reliability Distribution on Snyder’s Dispositional Hope Scale," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 723-729, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Shuk Yu Hung & Winnie Wing Man Ng & Edward Kwok Yiu Choi, 2022. "The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hong Kong Nursing Students’ Mental Health and Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Eirini Karakasidou & Georgia Raftopoulou & Anna Papadimitriou & Anastassios Stalikas, 2023. "Self-Compassion and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Greek College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Weiwei Duan & Tianbao Qin, 2022. "The Impact of China’s Legal System on Public Health and Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-16, October.

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