Need for a population health approach to understand and address psychosocial consequences of COVID-19

Psychol Trauma. 2020 Aug;12(S1):S25-S27. doi: 10.1037/tra0000618. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Abstract

This commentary article provides observations on the psychosocial consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among people in China and articulates a population health perspective to understand and address identified issues. We highlight key psychosocial effects of COVID-19, such as anxiety, insomnia, and trauma response, in the context of salient factors that shape Chinese people's psychological experiences, including the availability of Internet and technology, large-scale quarantine, economic impact, and the rise of xenophobia globally. Further, from a population health perspective, we make recommendations in COVID-19-related research and interventions that aim to promote the psychosocial health of Chinese people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety* / etiology
  • Anxiety* / psychology
  • Anxiety* / therapy
  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Coronavirus Infections* / economics
  • Coronavirus Infections* / psychology
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Pandemics* / economics
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / economics
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / psychology
  • Psychological Trauma* / etiology
  • Psychological Trauma* / psychology
  • Psychological Trauma* / therapy
  • Quarantine* / economics
  • Quarantine* / psychology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / etiology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / psychology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / therapy
  • Xenophobia* / psychology