Examination of Job Satisfaction and Anxiety Levels of Workers Working at COVID-19 Diagnostic Centers During the Pandemic

Abstract

Health workers who are working in the front line during pandemic are vulnerable to mental health problems such as anxiety, which can affect their job satisfaction negatively. This study aims to determine the job satisfaction and anxiety levels of workers working in COVID-19 diagnostic centers during the pandemic. The sample comprised of 184 biologists working in 17 diagnostic centers. A total of a 52 item questionnaire was applied to the employees consisting of questions about their demographic information, satisfaction level, and anxiety level. The data were analyzed with SPSS v.22.0. Nonparametric tests (i.e., Mann Withney U Test and Kruskal Wallis Test) were used to determine the statistical significance of the comparative analysis results. Spearman correlation coefficient was used in the correlation analysis of job satisfaction and anxiety levels. Statistical significance was evaluated at p<0.05 level. The reliability of the scales was assessed through the Cronbach alpha coefficient. The average age of the participants was 27.11±4.01. Most of the participants were women (71.7%), and 47.8% had a master’s degree. 89% of participants voluntarily started this work during the pandemic process. 94.6% stated that they were committed to their profession, and 77.7% indicated that they were very suitable for the profession. The anxiety level of the participants was found as average (mean=3.74±5.76). Gender and working hours affected the anxiety level. The anxiety level of women (4.31±6.02) was significantly higher than men (2.29±4.81) (p=0,002). The highest anxiety level was in those who worked at the 4-12 pm shift (4.45±6.18). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety levels according to education level, marital status, and working experience (p>0.05). The average job satisfaction of the participants was 4.18±0.61. Committed employees had higher job satisfaction levels (4.20±0.61) than others (3.81±0.54) (p=0.026). The study showed that although health workers work at high-risk units, the commitment to their job and being a volunteer for the job are very important to keep their anxiety levels lower and job satisfaction levels high.