Can prolonged exposure to information on COVID-19 affect mental health negatively?

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic delivered a heavy blow to social and economic development globally and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health and livelihoods. Using data from a survey on the living needs of people in China amid the COVID-19 outbreak, this study analysed the relationship between the duration of exposure to information on COVID-19 and mental health; the mediating effects of risk perception and confidence in pandemic prevention and control were also measured. We found that prolonged exposure to information on COVID-19 made people feel more anxious and stressed. Meanwhile, risk perception and confidence in pandemic prevention and control functioned as mediators between the duration of exposure to information on COVID-19 and anxiety and stress. Therefore, reduced duration of exposure to pandemic information can lower risk perception and enhance confidence in pandemic prevention and control. It can also relieve anxiety and stress caused by information about the spread of the pandemic.