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Chung RYN, Chung GKK, Chan SM, Chan YH, Wong H, Yeoh EK, Allen J, Woo J, Marmot M. Socioeconomic inequality in mental well-being associated with COVID-19 containment measures in a low-incidence Asian globalized city. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23161. [PMID: 34848754 PMCID: PMC8633192 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02342-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic exposes and amplifies pre-existing inequalities even in places with relatively well-controlled outbreaks such as Hong Kong. This study aimed to explore whether the socioeconomically disadvantaged fare worse via various types of worry in terms of their mental health and well-being. Between September and October 2020, 1067 adults in Hong Kong were recruited via a cross-sectional population-wide telephone survey. The inter-relationship between deprivation, types of worry, mental health disorders, and subjective well-being was assessed using structural equation modelling. Results showed significant total effects of deprivation on worries about being infected (p = 0.002), economic activities and livelihood (p < 0.001), and personal savings (p < 0.001), as well as mental health disorders (p < 0.001) and subjective well-being (p < 0.001). Specifically, worry about economic activities and livelihood partly mediated the total effect of deprivation on mental health disorders (p = 0.004), whereas worry about personal savings and worry about economic activities and livelihood partially mediated the total effect of deprivation on subjective well-being (p = 0.007 and 0.002, respectively). Socioeconomic inequality, particularly in mental health and well-being, could be exacerbated via people's economic concerns during the pandemic, which was largely induced by the COVID-19 containment measures rather than the pandemic per se given the relatively low COVID-19 incidence in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Yat-Nork Chung
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- CUHK Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- 4/F, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Gary Ka-Ki Chung
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siu-Ming Chan
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- CityU Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, The City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yat-Hang Chan
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hung Wong
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eng Kiong Yeoh
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jessica Allen
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL Institute of Health Equity, UCL Research, London, UK
| | - Jean Woo
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- CUHK Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Marmot
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL Institute of Health Equity, UCL Research, London, UK
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