Prevalence of Psychopathological Symptoms and Their Determinants in Four Healthcare Workers’ Categories during the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Highly stressful situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, induce constant changes in the mental state of people who experience them. In the present study, we analyzed the prevalence of some psychological symptoms and their determinants in four different categories of healthcare workers during the second year of the pandemic. A total of 265 physicians, 176 nurses, 184 other healthcare professionals, and 48 administrative employees, working in different Italian healthcare contexts, answered a questionnaire including variables about their mental status and experience with the pandemic. The mean scores for anxiety and depressive symptoms measured more than one year after the onset of the pandemic did not reach the pathological threshold. In contrast, post-traumatic and burnout symptoms tended toward the critical threshold, especially in physicians. The main determinant of psychological distress was perceived stress, followed by job satisfaction, the impact of COVID-19 on daily work, and a lack of recreational activities. These results increase the knowledge of which determinants of mental distress would be important to act on when particularly stressful conditions exist in the workplace that persist over time. If well-implemented, specific interventions focused on these determinants could lead to an improvement in employee well-being and in the quality of care provided.

The impact of COVID-19 on nurses’ job satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among these tools were the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale ( 23 , 26 ), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire ( 25 ), the Turkish Job Satisfaction Scale ( 31 ), the Job Satisfaction Scale ( 24 ), the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire ( 32 ), the Nursing Questionnaire on Organizational Health ( 22 ), and the Brayfield and Rothe’s 5-item Short Index of Job Satisfaction ( 33 ). Some of the researchers though opted for a single item scale to gauge job satisfaction ( 27 , 29 , 30 , 34 – 38 ). Other researchers adapted subscales of existing questionnaires; for instance, four questions focusing on work satisfaction were adapted from Shaver and Lacey ( 39 ).…”

“…Job dissatisfaction was correlated with mental health issues ( 23 ). Depression and stress were specifically identified as detrimental consequences of low job satisfaction ( 27 , 30 , 34 ). Anxiety was reported to be negatively affected by low job satisfaction ( 27 , 34 , 37 ).…”

“…Depression and stress were specifically identified as detrimental consequences of low job satisfaction ( 27 , 30 , 34 ). Anxiety was reported to be negatively affected by low job satisfaction ( 27 , 34 , 37 ). Chowdhury et al showed that job dissatisfaction resulted in increased workplace violence, bullying, and burnout ( 33 ).…”

“…Moreover, Chong et al correlated job dissatisfaction with mental health issues ( 23 ), which is alarming considering the stress and emotional turmoil healthcare professionals already face in pandemic settings ( 56 ). Specific mental health issues like depression, anxiety burnout, and stress were also observed as consequences of low job satisfaction ( 25 , 27 , 30 , 34 , 37 ). Furthermore, the work of Chowdhury et al showing an association between job dissatisfaction and increased workplace violence, bullying, and burnout ( 33 ) is particularly concerning.…”

الأعراض المرضية النفسية والتهيؤ لمواجهة الضغوط النفسية لدى العاملين بمكاتب خدمة المواطنين بالقطاع الصحى

“…‫در‬ ‫وتناولي‬ ) ‫الرعاية‬ ‫مقدمي‬ ‫اسرررررات‬ ‫كوفيد‬ ‫جائحة‬ ‫من‬ ‫عامين‬ ‫مرور‬ ‫بعد‬ ‫رررررحية‬ ‫الار‬ -19 ( ‫منؤا‬ Nordin, et al, 2022;Gorini, et al, 2022;Alves, et al, 2022;Varrasi, et al, 2023 ‫استخدمي‬ ‫وقد‬ ) ‫القلق‬ ‫قاييس‬ ‫م‬ ‫وأعراض‬ ‫والتوتر‬ ‫اب‬ ‫الكت‬ ( ‫منؤا‬ Campos, et al, 2021;Sim, et al, 2021;Nordin, et al, 2022;Gorini, et al, 2022;Varrasi, et al, 2023 ) Sim, et al, 2021;Campos, et al, 2021;da Silva Neto, et al, 2021;) Sim, et al, 2021;Varrasi, et al Lenzo, Barberis, Cannavo, et al, 2020;Pappa, Ntella, Giannakas, et al, 2020;Fernandez, Sikhosana, Green, et al, Ptacek, et al, 1994;Matud, 2004) ‫مما‬ ‫يبلغن‬ ‫يجعلؤن‬ ‫عن‬ ‫اععراض‬ ‫النفسرررية‬ ‫المريرررية‬ ( Bennett, et al, 2005 Ventura, et al, 2004;Lysaker, et al, 2005…”