Positive mental health-related impacts of the SARS epidemic on the general public in Hong Kong and their associations with other negative impacts.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate 2 positive impacts (better family/social support and lifestyle changes) and their associations with other negative impacts.


METHODS
A telephone survey using random telephone numbers and a structured questionnaire was conducted in Hong Kong general population. Eight hundred and eighteen Hong Kong residents of age 18-60 years completed the interview (response rate: 65%) at around end of June 2003, the early ending phase of the epidemic.


RESULTS
Over 60% of the respondents stated that they cared more about the family members' feelings; about 30%-40% stated that they found their friends, their family members more supportive or having more sharing with others when not feeling happy; only a few percent felt the opposite. Further, about 2/3 of the respondents paid more attention to their mental health. About 35%-40% took more time to rest, for relaxation or doing exercise. These items were, in general, negatively associated with post-traumatic stress, perception of stress and other perceptions that were related to SARS.


CONCLUSIONS
SARS have brought some positive impacts on social/family support, mental health awareness and lifestyle changes. These positive impacts were associated with other relevant negative impacts and might be important cushions of the negative impact.
Lau
Joseph T F
JT
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Yang
Xilin
X
Tsui
H Y
HY
Pang
Ellie
E
Wing
Yun Kwok
YK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*