Temporal changes in mental response and prevention patterns, and their impact from uncertainty stress during the transition in China from the COVID-19 epidemic to sporadic infection

An epidemic of a highly lethal disease can overwhelm people emotionally and physically. Little is known about how public mental and preventive patterns changed during the transition from the COVID-19 epidemic to sporadic infection. This study examined changing trends of metal response and behavioral variables, and their impact from uncertainty stress in this process in China. A prospective longitudinal observation design was utilized. There were 7 waves of surveys from COVID-19 epidemic status to the sporadic infection period. Sixty-two participants completed all observation points and were included in the study. The Mann–Kendall Test was used to assess changing trends across the seven observation points. The nonparametric linear mixed effects model was used to examine the association between uncertainty stress and mental and behavioral responses.