The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Among Older Adults From Different Communities in Chengmai County, China: Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Due to the strict measures employed to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the extent of COVID-19 goes beyond morbidity and mortality and affects individuals’ mental health in the long term. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and its contributing factors among older people in Chengmai County, China. METHODS: A web-based survey was administered through WeChat between March and April 2020. Older people (ie, >50 years) from local and foreign community groups completed the survey, which included items on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Independent t tests and a multiple linear regression analysis were used to investigate differences between anxiety and depression and the factors associated with these symptoms across the 2 groups. RESULTS: Overall, 469 responses were received; 119 responses (25.4%) were from male participants and 202 (43.1%) were from those older than 65 years. Of the 469 responses, 245 (52.2%) were from the local community group and 224 (47.8%) from the foreign group. The mean GAD-7 (P=.003) scores were significantly higher in the local group. Anxiety was significantly more present in the local group (61/245, 24.9% compared to 35/224, 15.6% in the foreign group; P=.01). A total of 6 respondents presented severe anxiety and 2 presented severe depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that both community groups of older adults from the Chinese “Hometown of Longevity” presented anxiety or depressive disorders during the first months of the pandemic. Local community groups presented significantly more mental health disorders, which were associated with a history of previous psychological disorders.