Predictive factors for enhanced community mental health vulnerability in this COVID-19 pandemic era

Objective Explore the mental health status and its influencing factors of local community residents under the post-epidemic era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. Methods The basic information scale, self-rating depression scale and self-rating anxiety scale were used to carry out an online questionnaire survey among community residents in Jiangsu Province, China, and the influencing factors of depression and anxiety were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 993 residents completed the mental health survey. It was found that the incidence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 37.06% and 22.86%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that women [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 26.239 (14.743-46.698)], college degree and above [OR (95% CI) = 1.843 (1.085-3.130)] and ordinary residents [OR (95% CI) = 2.222 (1.441-3.425)] were risk factors for depressive symptoms, urban residents had lower risk [OR (95% CI) = 0.655 (0.394-0.829)]. Women [OR (95% CI) = 33.595 (15.812-71.381)] and ordinary residents [OR (95% CI) = 3.017 (1.602-5.680)] were risk factors for anxiety symptoms while the incidence was reduced in professional and technical personnel [OR (95% CI) = 0.271 (0.123-0.597)], workers [OR (95% CI) = 0.383 (0.168-0.876)], soldiers or policemen [OR (95% CI) = 0.200 (0.042-0.961)], married residents [OR (95% CI) = 0.463 (0.230-0.931)] and urban residents [OR (95% CI) = 0.531 (0.251-0.824)]. Conclusion The incidence of symptoms of depression and anxiety among residents was relatively high under the post-epidemic era of COVID-19, which could be affected by various factors.

Automated summary

This study explored the mental health status and influencing factors among community residents in Jiangsu Province, China, during the post-epidemic era of COVID-19. The survey found a relatively high incidence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Factors such as gender, education level, and residency type were identified as risk factors for depressive symptoms, while gender and residency type were risk factors for anxiety symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues among community residents in the post-epidemic era of COVID-19.