Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students
IntroductionPrevious coronavirus, 2019 (COVID-19) research has applied network analysis to examine relationships between psychopathological symptoms but rarely extended to potential risk and protective factors or the influence of COVID-19 infection history. This study examined complex inter-relation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1340101/full |
| _version_ | 1797334759692566528 |
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| author | Chi Kei Krystal Lee Kwun Nam Joe Chan Sau Man Corine Wong Hou Sem Gabbie Wong Hiu Ching Janet Lei Yuen Kiu So Shi Cheng Vivian Fung Sai Ting Ryan Chu Kar Kin Albert Chung Pak Wing Calvin Cheng Ka Ying Heidi Lo Wai Chi Chan Wing Chung Chang Wing Chung Chang |
| author_facet | Chi Kei Krystal Lee Kwun Nam Joe Chan Sau Man Corine Wong Hou Sem Gabbie Wong Hiu Ching Janet Lei Yuen Kiu So Shi Cheng Vivian Fung Sai Ting Ryan Chu Kar Kin Albert Chung Pak Wing Calvin Cheng Ka Ying Heidi Lo Wai Chi Chan Wing Chung Chang Wing Chung Chang |
| author_sort | Chi Kei Krystal Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPrevious coronavirus, 2019 (COVID-19) research has applied network analysis to examine relationships between psychopathological symptoms but rarely extended to potential risk and protective factors or the influence of COVID-19 infection history. This study examined complex inter-relationships between psychopathological symptoms, COVID-19–related stressors, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history among Chinese university/college students during the peak of fifth pandemic wave using a network analysis approach.MethodsA Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator–regularized partial correlation network using Gaussian graphical model was constructed in 1,395 Chinese university/college students in Hong Kong who completed a survey between 15 March and 3 April, 2022. Depressive, anxiety, and acute/traumatic stress symptoms were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Impact of Event Scale-6, respectively. COVID-19–related stressors and perceived social support were measured. Network differences by COVID-19 infection history (COVID-network vs. no_COVID-network) and network communities were examined.ResultsOur results showed that the most influential nodes were depressed mood, uncontrollable worries, and uncontrollable thoughts about COVID-19. The main bridging symptoms were concentration problems and psychomotor problems. The COVID-network, comprising participants with a history of COVID-19 infection only, was significantly stronger than the no_COVID-network. Perceived social support and stress from conflicts with family/friends formed a unique community with negative cognition and suicidal idea in the COVID-network only.ConclusionOur findings indicate that specific interventions targeting interpersonal conflicts and concentration problems as well as facilitating stress buffering effects of social support may represent effective strategies to reduce psychological distress in university/college students during COVID-19 and should be considered for future pandemic preparedness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:25:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd9b101efcd54598a206c52f800416b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:25:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd9b101efcd54598a206c52f800416b42024-02-02T04:45:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-02-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.13401011340101Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college studentsChi Kei Krystal Lee0Kwun Nam Joe Chan1Sau Man Corine Wong2Hou Sem Gabbie Wong3Hiu Ching Janet Lei4Yuen Kiu So5Shi Cheng Vivian Fung6Sai Ting Ryan Chu7Kar Kin Albert Chung8Pak Wing Calvin Cheng9Ka Ying Heidi Lo10Wai Chi Chan11Wing Chung Chang12Wing Chung Chang13Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing (LKS) Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaIntroductionPrevious coronavirus, 2019 (COVID-19) research has applied network analysis to examine relationships between psychopathological symptoms but rarely extended to potential risk and protective factors or the influence of COVID-19 infection history. This study examined complex inter-relationships between psychopathological symptoms, COVID-19–related stressors, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history among Chinese university/college students during the peak of fifth pandemic wave using a network analysis approach.MethodsA Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator–regularized partial correlation network using Gaussian graphical model was constructed in 1,395 Chinese university/college students in Hong Kong who completed a survey between 15 March and 3 April, 2022. Depressive, anxiety, and acute/traumatic stress symptoms were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Impact of Event Scale-6, respectively. COVID-19–related stressors and perceived social support were measured. Network differences by COVID-19 infection history (COVID-network vs. no_COVID-network) and network communities were examined.ResultsOur results showed that the most influential nodes were depressed mood, uncontrollable worries, and uncontrollable thoughts about COVID-19. The main bridging symptoms were concentration problems and psychomotor problems. The COVID-network, comprising participants with a history of COVID-19 infection only, was significantly stronger than the no_COVID-network. Perceived social support and stress from conflicts with family/friends formed a unique community with negative cognition and suicidal idea in the COVID-network only.ConclusionOur findings indicate that specific interventions targeting interpersonal conflicts and concentration problems as well as facilitating stress buffering effects of social support may represent effective strategies to reduce psychological distress in university/college students during COVID-19 and should be considered for future pandemic preparedness.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1340101/fullnetwork analysissocial supportdepressionanxietyCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Chi Kei Krystal Lee Kwun Nam Joe Chan Sau Man Corine Wong Hou Sem Gabbie Wong Hiu Ching Janet Lei Yuen Kiu So Shi Cheng Vivian Fung Sai Ting Ryan Chu Kar Kin Albert Chung Pak Wing Calvin Cheng Ka Ying Heidi Lo Wai Chi Chan Wing Chung Chang Wing Chung Chang Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students Frontiers in Psychiatry network analysis social support depression anxiety COVID-19 |
| title | Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students |
| title_full | Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students |
| title_fullStr | Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students |
| title_short | Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students |
| title_sort | relationships between psychopathological symptoms pandemic related stress perceived social support and covid 19 infection history a network analysis in chinese college students |
| topic | network analysis social support depression anxiety COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1340101/full |
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