Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 25, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic Declaration on Psychological Consequences: A Study on Active Weibo Users.

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Topic:

  • Li et al review posts from 17,865 active users of Weibo, a Chinese social-media platform, and find an increase in negative emotions like anxiety, depression and indignation and sensitivity to social risks; as well as a decrease in positive emotions and life satisfaction after declaration of COVID-19 as an epidemic. 
  • Using social media data may provide timely understanding of public’s mental health during an epidemic for policy makers and clinical practitioners to develop campaigns and interventions accordingly. 

Li et al. (March 19, 2020). The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic Declaration on Psychological Consequences: A Study on Active Weibo Users. Int J Environ Research Public Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062032