Dataset Information

Exploring correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse: a nationwide cross-sectional study of international migrants during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems globally. With the increase of global migration, quantifying the health needs and key correlates of these outcomes is a global health priority. This study assessed migration characteristics, COVID-19 attitudes and the postmigration social environment as key correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse among international migrants in China.

Design

A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 17 February and 1 March 2020.

Setting

Links to the online survey were disseminated by migrant-focused community-based organisations through WeChat.

Participants

English speaking international migrants who met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were being born in a country outside of China, aged 18 years or over, cumulatively living in China for 1 month or more and staying in China between December 2019 and February 2020.

Outcome measures

Depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse.

Results

Regression models indicated that planning or considering leaving China due to COVID-19, lacking the confidence to protect themselves and not being confident that the epidemic would end soon was associated with greater depression, lower quality of life and greater levels of alcohol misuse. Worry about contracting COVID-19 and feeling helpless to prevent infection were associated with greater depression and lower quality of life. General perceived social support, and trust in Chinese people, institutions and systems were protective factors for depression and associated with higher reported quality of life.

Conclusions

This study identifies key correlates that, if adequately addressed through public health outreach, may safeguard migrant well-being during a public health emergency. Trust in people and systems within the postmigration environment is an important consideration for future public health planning efforts.

SUBMITTER: Hall BJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7959221 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Exploring correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse: a nationwide cross-sectional study of international migrants during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Hall Brian J BJ Zhao Peizhen P Xiong Ming Zhou MZ Latkin Carl C Yang Bin B Wang Cheng C

BMJ open 20210315 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems globally. With the increase of global migration, quantifying the health needs and key correlates of these outcomes is a global health priority. This study assessed migration characteristics, COVID-19 attitudes and the postmigration social environment as key correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse among international migrants in China.<h4>Design</h4>A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted ...[more]

PMID: 33722876

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Project description:BackgroundEarly midlife individuals (ages 30-40) experience demographic shifts that may influence the remainder of adult life. Although new or persistent alcohol misuse is common during this period, early midlife is understudied in alcohol use literature. We examined the heritability of alcohol misuse; the associations between alcohol misuse and sociodemographic factors, physical health, and well-being; and whether these associations were robust in cotwin comparisons.MethodsParticipants were 1446 Finnish twin pairs and 748 nonpaired Finnish twins with mean age 34 years. The alcohol misuse index was a composite measure of frequency of use, intoxication, heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol problems assessed with the Malmö-modified Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Early midlife correlates included relationship status and length, family formation, unemployment status, education level, self-rated health, pain, sleeping difficulties, life satisfaction, psychological health, and other substance use. We employed a sex-limitation model to estimate early midlife heritability. Linear and fixed effects regression models were used for individual and cotwin comparison analyses, respectively.ResultsAdditive genetic (A) and unique environmental (E) components of alcohol misuse variance differed across sex (Females: A = 62%, E = 38%; Males: A = 49%, E = 51%). In individual-based analyses, higher scores on the alcohol misuse index were associated with lower relationship stability, financial situation, education level, self-rated health, physical fitness, life satisfaction and psychological health, and higher self-reported pain, sleep difficulties, unemployment rates and other substance use (R2 = 0.008-0.12). Associations remained significant in cotwin comparison analyses (R2 = 0.004-0.10) except for financial situation and education level.ConclusionsThere is evidence of sex differences in the etiological factors that influence early midlife drinking. After controlling for confounding familial factors, associations between alcohol misuse and poorer early midlife functioning largely remained, suggesting that alcohol misuse may play a role in poorer functioning across several outcomes.

Dataset Information

Exploring correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse: a nationwide cross-sectional study of international migrants during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Exploring correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse: a nationwide cross-sectional study of international migrants during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Similar Datasets

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