New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry (Amsalem, Fisch, Wall, Choi, Markowitz, LeBeau, Hinds, Thompson, Fisher, Lewis-Fernández, Dixon, Neria) and Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (Amsalem, Wall, Markowitz, Thompson, Fisher, Smith, Lewis-Fernández, Dixon, Neria), Columbia University, New York City; School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Lazarov); New York State Office of Mental Health, Albany (Smith); Department of Population Health Sciences and Policy and Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City (Hankerson).
Psychiatr Serv. 2023 Oct 1;74(10):1010-1018. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220530. Epub 2023 Apr 12.
Emerging cross-sectional data indicate that essential workers in the COVID-19 era face increased mental health risks. This study longitudinally examined clinical symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among U.S. essential workers, including health care workers and workers in indispensable occupations such as manufacturing, food industry, construction, transportation, hospitality, and emergency services, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors anticipated high symptom levels and greater symptom severity among women versus men and among younger adults compared with older adults. Analyses also explored the association between COVID-19 vaccination status and clinical symptoms.
This four-wave online survey study assessed clinical symptoms in a convenience sample of 4,136 essential workers at baseline and 14, 30, and 90 days between August and December 2021. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Primary Care PTSD Screen instruments, respectively.
At every time point, 74%-78% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, which were highest among younger adults (ages 18-22 years), females, and transgender respondents. Vaccinated participants had slightly higher symptom levels than unvaccinated respondents. Rates of clinical symptoms did not change significantly over time.
Essential workers consistently reported symptoms of generalized anxiety, depression, or PTSD, especially younger adult, female, and transgender participants. The overwhelming and unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to offer mental health care to essential workers, especially those in these subgroups. Employers and administrators should support and proactively encourage employees to access care when needed.
新出现的横断面数据表明，新冠疫情时代的一线工作者面临着更高的心理健康风险。本研究通过纵向研究，调查了美国一线工作者（包括医护人员和制造业、食品业、建筑业、交通运输业、酒店业和应急服务业等不可或缺职业的工作者）在新冠疫情期间出现广泛性焦虑障碍、抑郁和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的临床症状。研究人员预计女性的症状水平和严重程度会高于男性，年轻人会高于老年人。分析还探讨了新冠疫苗接种状况与临床症状之间的关联。
本项包含 4 个时间点的在线调查研究，于 2021 年 8 月至 12 月，在便利样本中对 4136 名一线工作者进行了基线和 14、30、90 天的四次评估。使用广泛性焦虑障碍-7 量表、患者健康问卷-9 量表和初级保健 PTSD 筛查量表分别评估焦虑、抑郁和 PTSD 的症状。
在每个时间点，有 74%-78%的受访者报告有焦虑和抑郁症状，其中 18-22 岁的年轻人、女性和跨性别受访者的症状最为严重。接种疫苗的参与者的症状水平略高于未接种疫苗的受访者。症状水平随时间的变化并不显著。
一线工作者持续报告有广泛性焦虑、抑郁或 PTSD 的症状，尤其是年轻的、女性和跨性别受访者。新冠疫情的压倒性和前所未有的性质凸显了向一线工作者，尤其是这些亚群提供心理健康护理的必要性。雇主和管理人员应支持并积极鼓励员工在需要时寻求帮助。
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