<scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 Infection Frequency and Mental Health Outcomes Among Chinese Residents: Roles of Residence, Living Alone, Sex, and Age

ABSTRACT This cross‐sectional study investigated the association between the frequency of COVID‐19 infections and mental health outcomes among Chinese residents as well as the moderating roles of residence, living alone, sex, and age. A total of 30,053 residents aged 19 to 107 years ( M = 44.11, SD = 16.55), including 15,011 males (49.9%), participated in this study between June 20 and August 21, 2023. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, and psychological resilience were measured via self‐reported questionnaires. The results indicated that residents who had been infected with COVID‐19 only once reported lower levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress and higher levels of psychological resilience than did residents who had never been infected and those who had been infected multiple times. However, residents who had been infected multiple times reported worse mental health outcomes. Individuals who lived alone, men, and older participants were more strongly affected by multiple infections. The timing of the lifting of quarantine measures, gender roles, and social connections may explain the results of this study. Public policies addressing mental health should fully consider residents' sociocultural backgrounds and demographic characteristics. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2300072573