Mental state, biological rhythm and social support among healthcare workers during the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan
Yixiu Liu,
Lei Li,
Xingmei Jiang,
Yihao Liu,
Rui Xue,
Hua Yu,
Wei Wei,
Yajing Meng,
Zhe Li
Affiliations
Yixiu Liu
Department of Intensive Care Unit, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, China
Lei Li
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Xingmei Jiang
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Yihao Liu
Department of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
Rui Xue
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Hua Yu
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Wei Wei
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Yajing Meng
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China
Zhe Li
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, No. 28 Dianxin South Road, Chengdu, China; Corresponding author.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put the mental health of healthcare workers at risk. However, the potential psychosocial factors underlying mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, require further investigation. The present study aimed to explore the factors that influence the mental state of healthcare workers. Methods: A total of 276 healthcare workers completed a set of online self-report questionnaires from February 4 to 7, 2020, in the following order: general information related to the COVID-19 outbreak, Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Social Support Rating Scale. Results: Our study revealed that both social support and age moderated the ability of biological rhythm disturbance to exacerbate depression (R2 = 0.47; effect size f2 = 0.85). Higher levels of social support buffered the amplification of depression associated with increased biological rhythm disturbance in all age groups, and especially in younger individuals (mean age = 26.57, se = 0.04). Depressive symptoms were predicted by both social and sleeping rhythms, whereas anxiety symptoms were predicted only by social rhythm. Married individuals had lower biological rhythm disturbance ratings and higher social support ratings. Females also reported higher ratings in social support. Conclusions: Our study suggests that biological rhythm intervention along with social support can reduce the negative effect of biological rhythm disturbance on mood disorders, especially in younger people. We also provide evidence for the ability of social support to buffer stress in a major health crisis and demonstrate the effects of marital status and sex, which provide a different perspective for studying mental crisis management.
