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. 2022 Aug 15:311:181-188.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.05.061. Epub 2022 May 17.

Network analysis of depression, anxiety, insomnia and quality of life among Macau residents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wei Bai  1 , Yan-Jie Zhao  1 , Hong Cai  1 , Sha Sha  2 , Qinge Zhang  2 , Si-Man Lei  3 , Grace K I Lok  4 , Ines H I Chow  1 , Teris Cheung  5 , Zhaohui Su  6 , Todd Jackson  7 , Yu-Tao Xiang  8
Affiliations

Network analysis of depression, anxiety, insomnia and quality of life among Macau residents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wei Bai et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Although the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly impacted individuals' mental health and quality of life, network analysis studies of associations between symptoms of common syndromes during the pandemic are lacking, particularly among Macau residents. This study investigated the network structure of insomnia, anxiety, and depression and explored their associations with quality of life in this population.

Method: This online survey was conducted in Macau between August 18 and November 9, 2020. Insomnia, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life were assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version, respectively. Analyses were performed to identify central symptoms and bridge symptoms of this network and their links to quality of life.

Results: 975 participants enrolled in this survey. The prevalence of depressive, anxiety and insomnia symptoms were 38.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.5%-41.5%), 28.8% (95%CI: 26.0%-31.7%), and 27.6% (95% CI: 24.8%-30.4%), respectively. "Sleep maintenance" had the highest expected influence centrality, followed by "Trouble relaxing", "Interference with daytime functioning", "Irritability", and "Fatigue". Five bridge symptoms were identified: "Sleep problems", "Restlessness", "Irritability", "Severity of sleep onset", and "Motor activity". The insomnia symptom, "Sleep dissatisfaction", had the strongest direct relation to quality of life.

Conclusion: Insomnia symptoms played a critical role in the distress symptom network regarding node and bridge centrality as well as associations with quality of life among Macau residents. Close attention to these symptoms may be critical to reducing risk and preventing exacerbations in common forms of distress in this population.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Insomnia; Network analysis; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Network structure of insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in adult residents of Macau during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Network structure of insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms showing bridge symptoms in Macau adult residents during the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Flow network of quality of life.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The stability of centrality and bridge centrality indices using case-dropping bootstrap.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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