Income and social support related with mental health during COVID-19 outbreak in China

To investigate psychological response of Chinese public during the regular prevention and control of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and explore the relationship among income loss, social support and mental health. Five hundred twenty-six participants were randomly selected by snowball sampling method. Chinese version of Perceived Psychological Stress Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, self-rating anxiety scale, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 were used to measure the levels of psychological stress, social support, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Demographic variables, income loss and income satisfaction during the outbreak period were also collected. The prevalence rate of anxiety, PTSD symptoms and stress problems were 19.8%, 23.8%, and 24.7% respectively. Multiple Regression Analysis illustrated that social support associated with stress, anxiety and PTSD after controlling demographic variables; for non-student samples, stress, anxiety, and PTSD were corelated with change in income and social support. During the regular prevention and control of COVID-19, social support might help reducing stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. In addition to social support, change of income level was also an important factor for mental health. This study suggested the importance of maintaining a steady income after acute outbreak of COVID-19.

Automated summary

This study investigated the psychological response of the Chinese public during the regular prevention and control of COVID-19 and found that the prevalence rates for anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and stress problems were 19.8%, 23.8%, and 24.7% respectively. Social support was positively correlated with stress, anxiety, and PTSD, while changes in income and social support were associated with stress, anxiety, and PTSD in non-student samples. Therefore, strengthening social support during regular prevention and control can help reduce psychological stress and symptoms.