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Meaning in Life and Depression in Low-Income Families in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Source :
-
East Asian Archives of Psychiatry . Mar2023, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p15-20. 6p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Objective: To determine whether meaning in life (MIL) was associated with a lower risk of depression in people from low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Individuals from low-income families were recruited at a community centre during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Levels of MIL were assessed using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Scores of ≥24 on the Presence of Meaning subscale (MLQ-P) and Search for Meaning subscale (MLQ-S) were considered high. A score of ≥10 on the PHQ-9 was indicative of clinical depression. Correlations between MLQ and PHQ-9 scores were examined, along with associations between presence of/search for meaning and risk of clinical depression. Results: Among 102 participants, 64 (62.7%) had clinical depression; 14 (13.7%) had both high presence of meaning and high search for meaning. The MLQ score was correlated with the PHQ-9 score (r = -0.56, p < 0.001). The adjusted risk ratio for depression was 0.31 (p = 0.006) in participants with both high presence of meaning and high search for meaning. Conclusion: Among people with lower socioeconomic status, MIL may be important for protecting against depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20789947
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- East Asian Archives of Psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 162860513
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.12809/eaap2244