Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study

Objectives To examine the physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the correlates of fatigue using a representative, population-based, community sample of Chinese adults in Hong Kong.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Telephone surveys in Hong Kong...

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Main Authors: Elsie Yan, Haze K L Ng, Daniel W L Lai, Vincent W P Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e062609.full
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author Elsie Yan
Haze K L Ng
Daniel W L Lai
Vincent W P Lee
author_facet Elsie Yan
Haze K L Ng
Daniel W L Lai
Vincent W P Lee
author_sort Elsie Yan
collection DOAJ
description Objectives To examine the physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the correlates of fatigue using a representative, population-based, community sample of Chinese adults in Hong Kong.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Telephone surveys in Hong Kong from December 2020 to January 2021 (during the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak).Participants 1255 adults living in Hong Kong aged 18 years or older sampled using a multistage approach (53% women).Main outcome measures Physical and psychological fatigue: The Fatigue Assessment Scale (with a cut-off score of 22). Pandemic fatigue: Adherence to six disease prevention measures (DPM) recommended by the government.Results About 25.7% of the participants were feeling fatigued physically and psychologically. Physical and psychological fatigue was not directly associated with pandemic fatigue, and their association was fully mediated by self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in daily life. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis showed that higher levels of fatigue were associated with economically inactive status (B=0.18, SE=0.04, p<0.001), having family or friend infected with COVID-19 before or during the study (B=0.17, SE=0.01, p<0.001), lower acceptability of DPM (B=−0.16, SE=0.03, p<0.001), greater disruptions in daily life (B=0.22, SE=0.02, p<0.001), and greater trust in authorities in ending the pandemic (B=0.11, SE=0.02, p<0.001).Conclusions Fatigue affected many individuals during the pandemic. Disruptions of DPM in daily life may serve as a mediator in the association between pandemic fatigue and physical and psychological fatigue, reflecting the need of effective interventions to reduce self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in the general population. Resources should be allocated to provide sufficient services to individuals vulnerable to fatigue during the prolonged pandemic.
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spelling doaj-art-d4966bd9bf85435ba408d3225ff3a4fc2025-08-20T03:53:06ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-12-01121210.1136/bmjopen-2022-062609Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional studyElsie Yan0Haze K L Ng1Daniel W L Lai2Vincent W P Lee3Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Kowloon, Hong KongApplied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Kowloon, Hong KongFaculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong KongDepartment of Social Work, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Kowloon, Hong KongObjectives To examine the physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the correlates of fatigue using a representative, population-based, community sample of Chinese adults in Hong Kong.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Telephone surveys in Hong Kong from December 2020 to January 2021 (during the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak).Participants 1255 adults living in Hong Kong aged 18 years or older sampled using a multistage approach (53% women).Main outcome measures Physical and psychological fatigue: The Fatigue Assessment Scale (with a cut-off score of 22). Pandemic fatigue: Adherence to six disease prevention measures (DPM) recommended by the government.Results About 25.7% of the participants were feeling fatigued physically and psychologically. Physical and psychological fatigue was not directly associated with pandemic fatigue, and their association was fully mediated by self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in daily life. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis showed that higher levels of fatigue were associated with economically inactive status (B=0.18, SE=0.04, p<0.001), having family or friend infected with COVID-19 before or during the study (B=0.17, SE=0.01, p<0.001), lower acceptability of DPM (B=−0.16, SE=0.03, p<0.001), greater disruptions in daily life (B=0.22, SE=0.02, p<0.001), and greater trust in authorities in ending the pandemic (B=0.11, SE=0.02, p<0.001).Conclusions Fatigue affected many individuals during the pandemic. Disruptions of DPM in daily life may serve as a mediator in the association between pandemic fatigue and physical and psychological fatigue, reflecting the need of effective interventions to reduce self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in the general population. Resources should be allocated to provide sufficient services to individuals vulnerable to fatigue during the prolonged pandemic.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e062609.full
spellingShingle Elsie Yan
Haze K L Ng
Daniel W L Lai
Vincent W P Lee
Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
BMJ Open
title Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
title_full Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
title_short Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
title_sort physical psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of covid 19 outbreak in hong kong population based cross sectional study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e062609.full
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