Abstract
Background: Public health workers are essential to responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, but research on anxiety and stress among public health workers during the epidemic is limited. This study aimed to evaluate related factors affecting mental health among public health workers during the epidemic.Methods: Between February 19 and 25, 2020, an online, cross-sectional study was conducted among public health workers in a city in China. Mental health status was assessed using the Chinese versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), both with a cutoff score of 5. Work-related variables, workloads and sacrifices, and personal perceptions were also assessed.Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 49.2% and 45.7%, respectively, among public health workers. Three risk factors and one protective factor, namely, overcommitment (OR = 1.10∼1.20, p < 0.001), perceived troubles at work (OR = 1.14∼1.18, p < 0.001), perceived tension (OR = 1.11, p < 0.001) and the capability to persist for more than 1 month at the current work intensity (OR = 0.41∼0.42, p < 0.001) were found to be independently associated with anxiety and depression in the multivariable logistic regression analyses after propensity score matching. But the Bayesian networks analysis found that the last three factors directly affect anxiety and depression.Conclusion: Psychological responses to COVID-19 were dramatic among public health workers during the severe phase of the outbreak. To minimize the impact of the epidemic, working conditions should be improved, and easily accessible psychological support services should be implemented.
Highlights
Mental health is an important component of health, and the concept of “no health without mental health” as proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has become the consensus view
Many studies have suggested that infectious disease epidemics, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1), are associated with mental health problems among the general population (Cowling et al, 2010; Taha et al, 2014), healthcare workers (HCWs) (Bai et al, 2004; Lee et al, 2018), and patients (Lee et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2011)
According to the score of GAD-7 and PHQ-9, all participants were divided into the score ≥5 and the score
Summary
Mental health is an important component of health, and the concept of “no health without mental health” as proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has become the consensus view. The drivers of poor mental health include multiple transitions affecting the global population, such as the increasing rates of some social determinants (pandemics, conflict, and displacement) and environmental threats (increased natural disasters associated with climate change) (Yokoyama et al, 2014; Patel et al, 2018). Many studies have suggested that infectious disease epidemics, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1), are associated with mental health problems among the general population (Cowling et al, 2010; Taha et al, 2014), healthcare workers (HCWs) (Bai et al, 2004; Lee et al, 2018), and patients (Lee et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2011). This study aimed to evaluate related factors affecting mental health among public health workers during the epidemic
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
