Relationship between attitudes towards SARS and mental health and defense styles in highª²risk medical staff during post climax of SARS

    ZHANG Qian1,2£¬HUANG Xiuª²Qin2£¬YANG Xiaoª²Liu2£¬HE Xiaoª²Bing2£¬YU Shuª²Ying2

    1Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, 2Department of Outpatient£¬General Hospital£¬Beijing Military Area Command, Beijing 100700, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate different social groups¬ð attitudes towards SARS, to compare their mental health and the defense styles and to analyze the social and psychological characters and impact factors in SARS highª²risk medical staff (Highª²Risk Group) during the epidemic outbreak of SARS. METHODS: A selfª²designed questionnaire of attitudes towards SARS, 16ª²PF (16 Personality Factors) and DSQ (Defense Style Questionnaire) were used to assess the psychological differences between Highª²Risk Group and other groups. RESULTS: ¢Ù For the knowledge of SARS , Highª²Risk Group tended to select the item "quite familiar" and "familiar", for the risk perception of SARS, the Highª²Risk Group tended to select "not fear", and for the prospect to control SARS, the Highª²Risk Group responded with a more positive and optimistic attitude. ¢Ú Multiple regression analysis showed that those in Highª²Risk Group who selected "quite familiar" and responded with optimistic attitudes were positively correlated with the level of mental health. ¢Û More use of mature defense mechanisms and less use of immature defense mechanisms were found to be positively correlated with those in Highª²Risk Group who responded with optimistic attitudes. CONCLUSION: The attitudes towards SARS in Highª²Risk Group, which were distinct from those of other groups, are more positive and appropriate than those in other groups during post climax stage of SARS outbreak. Their attitudes are probably related to their positive beliefs in conquering SARS. ......