Prevalence and risk factors of psychological impacts among the quarantined population during the COVID-19 pandemic in China
Abstract Background: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has swept into over 200 countries with considerable confirmed cases and deaths, and has caused public panic and mental health stress. We aimed to examine the quarantined population’s psychological problems during the pandemic, and to explore the potential risk factors.Methods: From 3 February, to 17 February, 2020, we conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey to collect data from 6,961 participants assessed with demographic data, knowledge about the COVID-19, anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms, and poor sleep. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the risk factors associated with the psychological issues.Results: The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms, and poor sleep quality were 34.6%, 19.2%, and 18.3%, respectively. People aged < 35 years reported a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms than people aged ≥ 35 years (P<0.01). Compared with other occupational groups, healthcare workers had the highest rate of poor sleep quality (P<0.001). Younger age, spent ≥ 3 hours a day focusing on the pandemic, and healthcare workers were the potential risk factors for psychological problems.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the quarantined population showed a severe psychological impact, especially people aged < 35 years, those spent ≥3 hours a day focusing on the pandemic, and being a healthcare worker. Our findings can be a helpful reference for intervention and prevention programs for the quarantined population facing crisis in the future.