Workload Is Associated with Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms in an Italian Nationally Representative Sample of Public Health Medical Residents: The PHRASI Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Mental health disorders pose a substantial challenge for healthcare workers, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. Public health medical residents (PHRs) played a pivotal role during the pandemic and were significantly affected by the heavy workload. This study aims to uncover potential associations between workload characteristics and symptoms of anxiety and insomnia in Italian PHRs based on data collected in 2022 through the Public Health Residents’ Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI) study. Methods: A total of 379 residents completed the self-administered questionnaire comprising the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: While 36% PHRs reported anxiety symptoms (GAD-2 ≥ 3), 12% reported moderate-to-severe insomnia symptoms (ISI ≥ 15). The multivariate logistic regressions showed that a high work–life interference was associated with the presence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms, while attending two or more simultaneous traineeships was associated with insomnia symptoms. A high workload perceived was positively associated with both the mental health outcomes considered, while the perception of work environment manageability was negatively associated with them. Conclusions: These findings underscore the significant role of the workload in influencing the mental health status of PHRs and emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive work environment that prioritizes mental well-being