Concerns, attitudes and comparison of the COVID-19 epidemic impact on the mental state of medical and nonmedical employees.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the manifestation of anxiety and depressive disorders as well as attempt to identify factors influencing their occurrence among healthcare system employees and nonmedical staff. A survey was conducted with participation of 921 people using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Modified (HADS-M) and a survey prepared to assess the attitudes of the respondents towards the epidemic.. The obtained results allow to state that the examined groups do not differ in the level of perceived anxiety or the level of depression, however, they had different attitudes towards the epidemic. Anumber of factors increasing the risk of occurrence of these disorders have been identified. Among medical professions, nurses are the professional group particularly vulnerable to anxiety disorders. The epidemic has a significant impact on human mental well-being. Recognizing the factors increasing the risk of mental disorders and their prevalence during an epidemic can help identify individuals who are particularly at risk of developing them. The knowledge resulting from empirical explorations is the basis for implementing preventive and therapeutic measures among people affected by mental disorders during the pandemic.