Social Disengagement in Post-Pandemic China: A Translation, Validation and Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Pandemic Disengagement Syndrome Scale

Abstract

Background

In contrast to abundant research on the various acute mental effects of COVID-19, the long-term influences of the pandemic are still underexplored in China owing to the paucity of assessment tools. The Pandemic Disengagement Syndrome Scale (PDSS) assesses people's social disengagement as a lasting psychological consequence in Western countries during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. However, its generalizability across cultures is untested.

Objectives

The present studies aimed to validate Chinese PDSS and compare disengagement syndrome levels among China, the United States and Italy.

Method

In Study 1, a Chinese version of the PDSS was developed, psychometric properties including factor structure, internal consistency, measurement invariance across gender and country, discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability were tested. Study 2 examined demographic differences in the pandemic disengagement syndrome in China and compared Chinese PDSS scores and those in the United States and Italy (Ns = 415_US, 455_Italy, 826_China).

Results and Conclusion

The findings indicated that disengagement syndrome may exist among Chinese people even substantially after the acute phases of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Chinese PDSS demonstrating acceptable psychometric features can be a valid instrument to assess the syndrome. Several possible reasons for the persistence of disengagement in China are discussed.