title: Preventive behaviors and mental distress in response to H1N1 among university students in Guangzhou, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level of and factors involved in influenza virus subtype H1N1 (H1N1)-related preventive behaviors and mental distress among university students in Guangzhou.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data for 825 students from 2 universities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 49.7% of the participants held misconception(s) concerning H1N1 transmission. Less than 30% washed their hands >10 times/d; 72.3% did not reduce the frequency of touching their mouths, noses, and eyes; only 9.3% would wear face masks if they had influenza-like symptoms. However, 45% worried that one/one's family would contract H1N1, 10.7% were panicking/feeling depressed/feeling emotionally disturbed as a result of H1N1, and 14.9% were fearful about the WHO's H1N1 pandemic announcement. Almost all cognitive variables of this study were significantly associated with mental distress caused by fear of H1N1 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.29-3.81), but very few were associated with adoption of preventive measures (OR = 0.65-1.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventive measures are warranted to alleviate distress in the population studied via health education and promotion.
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Daming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong jlau@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Joseph Tak Fai
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult