Psychosocial and financial well-being mediated the effects of COVID-19 distress on suicidality: a serial mediation model among Hong Kong young adults

• Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 165 - 174
• Main Authors: So, Wendy Wing Yan, Fong, Ted Chun Tat, Woo, Bowie Po Yi, Yip, Paul Siu Fai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiology; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pandemics; Psychiatry; Psychological stress; Random sampling; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Suicide; Young Adult; Young adults; Hong Kong; Hong Kong China; China; COVID-19; Financial well-being; Psychosocial distress; Indirect effects; Suicide risks; Structural equation model
• ISSN: 0933-7954; 1433-9285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02501-4

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant distress on not only the physical health but also mental health of individuals. The present study investigated the direct and indirect effects from COVID-19 distress to suicidality via psychosocial and financial well-being among young people. Methods This cross-sectional survey recruited 1472 Hong Kong young people via random sampling in 2021. The respondents completed a phone survey on COVID-19 distress, the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire and items on social well-being, financial well-being, and suicidality. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 distress on suicidality via psychosocial and financial well-being. Results The direct effect of COVID-19 distress on suicidality was not significant ( β  = 0.022, 95% CI  − 0.097–0.156). The total indirect effect from COVID-19 distress to suicidality was significant and positive (αβγ = 0.150, 95% CI = 0.085–0.245) and accounted for 87% of the total effect ( B  = 0.172, 95% CI = 0.043–0.341). There were significant specific indirect effects via social well-being and psychological distress, and financial well-being and psychological distress. Conclusion The present findings support different pathways from COVID-19 distress to suicidality via functioning in different domains among young people in Hong Kong. Measures are needed to ameliorate the impact on their social and financial well-being to reduce their psychological distress and suicidality.