Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms Among the General Population in China During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Key Points Question What are the patterns of and factors associated with mental health conditions among the general population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China? Findings In this survey study with 56 679 participants across all 34 province-level regions in China, 27.9% of participants had symptoms of depression, 31.6% had symptoms of anxiety, 29.2% had symptoms of insomnia, and 24.4% had symptoms of acute stress during the outbreak. Factors independently associated with negative mental health outcomes included having confirmed or suspected COVID-19, having a relative with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, having occupational exposure risks, living in Hubei province, and experiencing quarantine and delays in returning to work. Meaning The mental health burden associated with COVID-19 is considerable among the general population of China, suggesting that mental health interventions are in urgent demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for some at-risk populations.