Table_1_COVID-19 Information Overload, Negative Emotions and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.XLSX

BackgroundUnder the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large amount of COVID-19-related information can cause an individual's perceived information overload, further halting the individual's psychological health. As a minor psychological discomfort could develop severe mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, it is necessary to understand the chain linkage of COVID-19 information overload turn to posttraumatic stress disorder to ensure timely intervention can be offered at each point of mental state transformation. Hence, we examined the negative outcomes of COVID-19 information overload and investigated the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on posttraumatic stress disorder.
MethodsA convenient sample of Chinese adults (n = 1150) was investigated by an online survey from July 2020 to March 2021. The extent of COVID-19 information overload was measured by the information overload severity scale on the text of the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological distress symptoms were measured using a 7-item anxiety scale (GAD-7), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9), and the psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C). Structural equation modeling and bootstrap methods were utilized to analyze the relationships between variables.
ResultsCOVID-19 information overload is positively related to an individual's anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, COVID-19 information overload can indirectly affect an individual's PTSD symptoms by increasing the feeling of depression. R2 values of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were 0.471, 0.324, and 0.795, respectively.
ConclusionCOVID-19 information overload, anxiety, depression, and PTSD are negative psychological states, and each variable is closely linked with the others, suggesting the need for potential psychological interventions at specific times. Practical public training, such as crisis coping and information filtering, is essential. Regulation of technology companies is also essential.

背景：在新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）大流行背景下，大量新冠相关信息会导致个体产生感知性信息过载，进而损害个体的心理健康。由于轻微的心理不适可能发展为创伤后应激障碍（posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD）等严重精神障碍，因此明确新冠信息过载向创伤后应激障碍转化的链式关联，有助于在心理状态转变的各个节点及时开展干预。为此，本研究探究了新冠信息过载带来的负面后果，并分析了新冠信息过载对创伤后应激障碍的直接与间接效应。
方法：本研究于2020年7月至2021年3月通过线上调查的方式，便利抽样纳入1150名中国成年人作为研究对象。新冠信息过载程度采用针对新冠大流行文本编制的信息过载严重程度量表进行评估。心理痛苦症状通过7条目焦虑量表（GAD-7）、9条目患者健康问卷抑郁模块（PHQ-9）以及创伤后应激障碍检查表（PCL-C）进行测评。本研究采用结构方程模型与Bootstrap法分析各变量间的关联关系。
结果：新冠信息过载与个体的焦虑、抑郁及创伤后应激障碍均呈显著正相关。此外，新冠信息过载可通过加重个体的抑郁情绪，间接影响其创伤后应激障碍症状。焦虑、抑郁与创伤后应激障碍的决定系数（R²）分别为0.471、0.324与0.795。
结论：新冠信息过载、焦虑、抑郁与创伤后应激障碍均为负面心理状态，且各变量间存在紧密关联，这提示需在特定时机开展针对性的心理干预。面向公众开展危机应对与信息筛选等实用培训具有重要意义，同时对科技企业进行监管也至关重要。