Perceived Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms among Italian Dentists: The Moderating Role of Fear of COVID-19

Abstract

Containment measures adopted to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have produced a general perception of job insecurity. Dentists have been highly affected by such measures, as they represent an easy source of contagion. As perceived job insecurity is associated with psychological distress and Italian dentists have been highly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of potential financial loss and the risk of being infected, this study aimed at assessing whether the fear of COVID-19 moderated the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional online study has included 735 Italian dentists recruited during the lockdown and ranging in age from 27 to 70 years old (495 men and 240 women). A quantile regression model with an inference based on the median and with an interaction term between the fear of COVID-19 and perceived job insecurity has been used to estimate the hypothesized associations. The results indicated that both perceived job insecurity and fear of COVID-19 were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and that the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms was weaker among those with a low fear of COVID-19. The findings may inform public health policies for dentists in relation to reducing the risk of developing negative mental health outcomes.

Psychological Distress and Post-Traumatic Symptomatology among Dental Healthcare Workers in Russia: Results of a Pilot Study

“…This finding is similar to the results of cross-sectional surveys among dentists from China, India, Israel, Italy, and the U.K. [ 19 ], as well as U.K. frontline HCWs, where no gender differences were revealed [ 3 ]. By contrast, several other studies have revealed that female dentists showed significantly higher levels of self-reported anxiety [ 13 ], depression [ 12 ], and stress [ 21 ], confirming that women are at higher risk of depressive symptoms than men [ 47 ]. Therefore, our findings should be treated with caution, because the majority of participants identified as women (78.9%) and it may be that there was insufficient power to detect differences.…”

“…This is because dental healthcare delivery requires close physical contact between patients and specialists, while dental procedures generate aerosols, which pose potential risks to operators and patients [ 11 ]. Moreover, for these reasons, severe restrictions in dental practice have been adopted by governments to avoid this source of contagion [ 12 , 13 ]. In several countries, dentists have been allowed to practice only emergency/urgent procedures during the whole period of the lockdowns [ 12 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…Moreover, for these reasons, severe restrictions in dental practice have been adopted by governments to avoid this source of contagion [ 12 , 13 ]. In several countries, dentists have been allowed to practice only emergency/urgent procedures during the whole period of the lockdowns [ 12 , 14 , 15 ]. The obtained perceived job insecurity has additionally affected their mental health [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], having been positively associated with depressive symptoms [ 12 ].…”

“…In several countries, dentists have been allowed to practice only emergency/urgent procedures during the whole period of the lockdowns [ 12 , 14 , 15 ]. The obtained perceived job insecurity has additionally affected their mental health [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], having been positively associated with depressive symptoms [ 12 ]. This is exemplified by the results of cross-sectional surveys among dentists from China, India, Israel, Italy, and the U.K., which indicated elevated levels of subjective overload, psychological distress, and anxiety among participants [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Burnout and Depression in Portuguese Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic—The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience

“…In this pandemic scenario, fear of COVID-19 contagion seems to be an exacerbator of distress and has been found to be associated with negative mental health outcomes [ 4 , 12 , 13 ]. In this line, Wankowicz et al [ 14 ] reported that healthcare workers who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients in emergency wards, infectious wards, and intensive care units are at a much higher risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression than HCW working in other wards.…”