Moderating effect of people-oriented public health services on depression among socially isolated people during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in China

Abstract Background:Public health measures including social isolationare essential forCOVID-19 control,but also increase the risk of depression. This study examined the influencing and moderating factors on socially isolated people’s depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were collected from people in mandatory home or centralizedsocial isolation in Shenzhen, China from February 28 to March 6 in 2020. We assessed their perceived COVID-19risk, perceived tone of media coverage, perceived quality of people-oriented public health services, and depressive symptoms.Three stepwise multiple regressions were performed to examine the moderating effects controlling age, gender, education, monthly income, socially isolated venue,time spent on COVID-related news, and online social support.Results:We examined data from 340 people. 57.6% men, averaged age at 35.5 years old (SD = 8.37), 55.6% held bachelor’s degree or above.Overall, people in social isolation reported a moderate level ofdepressive symptoms (M =1.24, SD = 0.4). The perceived susceptibility of being infected was relatively low (M = 1.36, SD = 0.54), and the perceived tone of media coverage was mainly positive (M = 1.97, SD = 1.05). In terms of perceived quality of public health services, 3.2% (n = 11) participants reported low-level, 49.1% (n = 167) medium-level, and 47.6 (n =162) high-level quality ofpeople-oriented services. Perceived riskwas significantly associated with depression (β= .12, p< 0.01), and perceived tone of media coverage was negatively associated with depression (β= -.05, p< 0.01).The quality of people-centered public health service moderated the association between perceived riskand depressive symptoms(β= -.15, p< 0.05), and the relationship between perceived tone of media coverage and depressive symptoms(β= .01, p< 0.01).Conclusions:This studyfound thatpeople-oriented public health servicesreduced the effect of risk perception and media tone on depressive symptoms among COVID-19 socially isolated people, suggesting a critical role for frontline public health workers in protecting public mental health.