HONG KONG, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19
continues to spread across the world, there is mandatory 7 to
21-day quarantine for travellers who arrive in Hong Kong and Mainland China from overseas.
Since self-isolation may affect people's emotional health
adversely, Lingnan University
(LU)'s Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling
Psychology Research Centre (WJLCCPRC) has designed a
self-assessment questionnaire and intervention exercise to help
people in quarantine cope better psychologically.
A hundred and twenty-five people from Foshan, Zhuhai and
Shenzhen who had been in
compulsory quarantine for at least 14 days between August 2021 and March
2022 were recently recruited for a study conducted
jointly by the WJLCCPRC and the psychiatry department of Shunde Wu
Zhong Pei Hospital, Foshan.
Respondents filled in the online questionnaire on their
physical, emotional, behavioural responses to quarantine, their
capacity to be alone, and whether or not they have a "growth
mindset", using their mobile devices or computers and starting from
the first stage of isolation (before Day 3). They did a follow-up
survey in the middle of the quarantine period, on Day 8, and again
just before the end of quarantine, on Day 13, to see if there were
any changes.
The interviewees were then randomly assigned into three groups,
with one doing one intervention exercise and the second group doing
four intervention exercises. The remaining control group was not
given an intervention exercise to do. Results showed that most
people were able to stay in good physical and mental health during
the quarantine period, although some experienced negative feelings
such as anxiety, loneliness, and a sense of helplessness. The two
groups asked to do intervention exercises showed better
psychological competencies with a growth and a gratitude mindset,
and the group given four exercise interventions was able to achieve
greater sustainable mental wellbeing than the group who only did
one exercise.
Project leader Prof Siu
Oi-ling, Chair Professor of Applied Psychology and Director
of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology
Research Centre of Lingnan University
in Hong Kong, explained that
the self-assessment test designed by Lingnan
University aims to develop respondents' growth mindset and
increase their resilience so they can face adversities and
challenges with a positive attitude. "Self-isolation is a fact that
cannot be changed, therefore one can only adopt psychological
adjustment to deal with it, and this also applies to everyday work
and life. The self-assessment test helps participants understand
the implications of quarantine for individuals and society, and
improves their abilities to tackle loneliness," she said.
Prof Siu noted that Prof Carol
Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, examines self-conceptions and
motivation, showing that people with a growth mindset believe their
skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and
persistence. They embrace challenges, persist despite obstacles,
learn from criticism and seek inspiration in others' success.
She added that Lingnan University's
simple exercise can be completed in a few minutes and includes
watching online videos. It helps to improve the growth
mindset of those in quarantine, as well as their health and
psychological wellbeing, and strengthens their gratitude mindset
and ability to tackle loneliness. Prof Siu said the study has
proved that the self-assessment test is effective, and LU will post
the exercise on online platforms in the hope it may help people
fight COVID-19 by developing their growth mindset.
Photo:
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