Avoidance behaviors and negative psychological responses in the general population in the initial stage of the H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: During the SARS pandemic in Hong Kong, panic and worry were prevalent in the community and the general public avoided staying in public areas. Such avoidance behaviors could greatly impact daily routines of the community and the local economy. This study examined the prevalence of the avoidance behaviors (i.e. avoiding going out, visiting crowded places and visiting hospitals) and negative psychological responses of the general population in Hong Kong at the initial stage of the H1N1 epidemic. METHODS: A sample of 999 respondents was recruited in a population-based survey. Using random telephone numbers, respondents completed a structured questionnaire by telephone interviews at the 'pre-community spread phase' of the H1N1 epidemic in Hong Kong. RESULTS: This study found that 76.5% of the respondents currently avoided going out or visiting crowded places or hospitals, whilst 15% felt much worried about contracting H1N1 and 6% showed signs of emotional distress. Females, older respondents, those having unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmissions, and those feeling worried and emotionally distressed due to H1N1 outbreak were more likely than others to adopt some avoidance behaviors. Those who perceived high severity and susceptibility of getting H1N1 and doubted the adequacy of governmental preparedness were more likely than others to feel emotionally distressed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of avoidance behaviors was very high. Cognitions, including unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmission, perceived severity and susceptibility were associated with some of the avoidance behaviors and emotional distress variables. Public health education should therefore provide clear messages to rectify relevant perceptions.
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Pandemic worries and uncertainties are common, and for some they cause disproportionate distress and impaired social and occupational functioning.
“Although worries and uncertainties about a pandemic are common, for some they can cause undue distress and impairment to social and occupational functioning.14, 59, 60”
From Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science (2020) · cites this paper as [60]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Lau, J. T., Griffiths, S., Choi, K. C., & Tsui, H. Y.
- Affiliations
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Corresponding author
- Lau, Joseph TF
- Venue
- BMC Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2010-05-28
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 139-139
- ISSN
- 1471-2334 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2891756
- OpenAlex
- W1994584686
- Cited by
- 305
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Food and Health Bureau
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Keywords
- H1N1 pandemic, pandemic influenza, avoidance behavior, emotional distress, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, government preparedness, public health education, Hong Kong
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Behavior, Disease Outbreaks, Fear, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Influenza, Human, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
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