Age-related differences in the impact of resilience on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong

ObjectiveThis study investigated changes in mental health in Hong Kong over two years and examined the role of resilience and age in mitigating the negative effects of public health emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsComplete data of interest from two telephone surveys conducted in 2020 (n = 1182) and 2021 (n = 1108) were analysed. Participants self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire 4-item version (PHQ), psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) using three items from the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief (PQB), and resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 2-item version (CD-RISC-2).ResultsWe observed an increase in the percentage of participants with high depressive and anxiety symptoms and PLEs from 1.6% to 6.5% between 2020 and 2021. The likelihood of having high depressive and anxiety symptoms or PLEs depended on resilience and age, with no significant between-year differences. Resilience and age interaction effects were significant when comparing the high PHQ-high PQB group to the low PHQ-low PQB group only in 2021 but not in 2020.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Hong Kong, emphasising the age-dependent nature of resilience in mitigating negative effects. Future research should explore the mechanisms by which resilience promotes mental health and well-being and identify ways to enhance resilience among older individuals during public health crises. COVID-19 had a significant impact on mental health with depressive and anxiety symptoms and psychotic-like experiences being a concern. Resilience is a protective factor, weaker in older participants, against depressive and anxiety symptoms and psychotic-like experiences. Targeted support strategies should consider age-related differences in resilience to promote mental well-being during public health crises.