Psychosocial indicators of individual behavior during COVID 19: Delphi approach

Protective behaviors against COVID-19 and their association with psychological factors in China and South Korea during the Omicron wave: a comparative study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to explore the level of protective behaviors against COVID-19 and its association with psychological factors in China and South Korea during the Omicron wave.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey from March 15 to 30, 2023 in China and South Korea. Demographic characteristics, health status, protective behaviors, and psychological factors (including perceived risks, efficacy belief, attribution of disease, fear of COVID-19, trust and evaluation, fatalism, resilience, and pandemic fatigue) were investigated. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors, multivariable regression models were constructed to explore the psychological influencing factors of protective behavior.

RESULTS

A total of 3000 participants from China and 1000 participants from Korea were included in the final analysis. The mean performance score for protective behaviors among all respondents was 2.885 in China and 3.139 in Korea, with scores ranging from 1 to 4. In China, performance scores were higher in those who were female, aged 30-39, employed, married, living in urban areas, having the highest income level, having the best subjective health status, and having a history of chronic disease (P-value <0.05). In Korea, performance scores were higher for individuals who were female, over 50 years old, educated to high school or below, unemployed, married, had a history of chronic disease, and had never been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (P-value <0.05). In the multivariable regression model, perceived severity (β = 0.067), attribution of disease (β = 0.121), fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.128), trust and evaluation (β = 0.097), psychological resilience (β = 0.068), and efficacy belief (β = 0.216) were positively associated with the performance scores, pandemic fatigue (β = -0.089) was negatively associated with performance scores in China (P-value <0.05). However, in Korea, perceived susceptibility (β = 0.075), fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.107), and efficacy belief (β = 0.357) were positively associated with protective behaviors (P-value <0.05), trust and evaluation (β = -0.078) and pandemic fatigue (β = -0.063) were negatively associated with performance scores (P-value <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Populations in both China and Korea demonstrated great compliance with protective behaviors during the Omicron wave. Because of the sociocultural, economic, and political differences, there were differences in the association between psychological factors and protective behaviors in the two countries. This study, from the perspective of psychological factors in different cultural contexts, would provide references for increasing adherence to protective guidelines in future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Access and efficacy of university mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

This study sought to understand the mental health issues, mental health support and efficacy of that support among university students.

Participants

All students enrolled in a College of Arts and Sciences at one mid-size university received an email that contained a link to an anonymous, online questionnaire developed and disseminated through PsychData. 162 students completed the questionnaire.

Methods

Mixed methods: Data was summarized using descriptive analysis, testing for significance, testing for differences, and content analysis.

Results

Participants reported high levels of anxiety (76%) and depression (65%). Results indicated that participant demographics were associated with types of mental access, and support. Unexpected results included lack of knowledge or information on cost, and how to access mental health services hindered access for participants, and although telehealth was the most widely used support, in contrast to other studies, participants indicated a preference for face-to-face mental health services.

Conclusion

Results highlight the need for improving communication about and access to mental health services in higher education Recommendations and implications for policy and support services are provided.