Social Capital, Income Loss, and Psychobehavioral Responses amid COVID-19: A Population-Based Analysis

Tsz Wai Li, Tatia Mei-chun Lee, Robin Goodwin, Menachem Ben-Ezra, Li Liang, Huinan Liu and Wai Kai Hou
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Tsz Wai Li: Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Tatia Mei-chun Lee: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Robin Goodwin: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Menachem Ben-Ezra: School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Li Liang: Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Huinan Liu: Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Wai Kai Hou: Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: This study examined the associations of perceived social capital and income change since the outbreak with probable depression and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Random digit dialing recruited a population-representative sample of 3011 Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥ 15 years (mean = 44, 55% females) between February 25 and April 29 2020. Respondents reported social capital (perceived interpersonal trust, social harmony, and sense of belonging), income change since the outbreak (loss vs. gain/no change), depressive symptoms, preventive behaviors, and demographics. Controlling for sociodemographics, lack of perceived interpersonal trust was associated with probable depression and avoiding contact with people with respiratory symptoms. Lack of perceived sense of belonging was associated with probable depression and decreased odds of adopting preventive behaviors. Lack of perceived social harmony was associated with probable depression and increased odds of used face masks among respondents with income loss only. Our results suggest that social capital is related to lower risk of depression and to higher chance of used face masks particularly among those experiencing income loss related to COVID-19. Prevention of mental health problems and promotion of effective preventive behaviors could be implemented by focusing on support for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Keywords: depression; social capital; income loss; preventive behaviors; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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