Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
, Austin, TX, 78746, USA.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023 Nov;96(9):1235-1244. doi: 10.1007/s00420-023-02002-6. Epub 2023 Jul 20.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health indicators, leading to an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression in both the general population of adults and children and many occupational groups. This study aims to examine changes in anxiety and depression among a cohort of public health workers in the U.S. during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify potential risk factors.
Longitudinal data were collected from a sub-sample (N = 85) of public health workers in 23 U.S. states who completed two surveys in 2020 and 2021. Information on background characteristics, personal well-being, and work environment as well as validated scales to assess generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depressive disorder, and burnout was collected. Data were analyzed using Stata Version 17, and significant differences were determined using Pearson's Chi and Fisher's Exact tests.
The proportion of those reporting GAD (46.3% to 23.2%) or depression (37.8% to 26.8%) improved from Survey 1 to Survey 2 overall; symptoms of anxiety saw the largest improvement. Persistent depression was associated with sustained burnout, changes in social support, and days worked per week.
Public health workers experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression during the initial pandemic response, but a reduction in these symptoms was observed in the subsequent year after vaccines had become widely available. However, unmet needs remain for ongoing workplace mental health supports to address burnout, as well as for additional emotional supports outside of work for public health professionals.
新冠疫情对心理健康指标产生了负面影响，导致成年人和儿童以及许多职业群体的焦虑和抑郁症状普遍增加。本研究旨在调查美国公共卫生工作者在新冠疫情第一年期间焦虑和抑郁症状的变化，并确定潜在的风险因素。
从美国 23 个州的公共卫生工作者的子样本（N=85）中收集了纵向数据，这些工作者在 2020 年和 2021 年完成了两次调查。收集了背景特征、个人幸福感和工作环境的信息，以及用于评估广泛性焦虑障碍（GAD）、抑郁障碍和倦怠的经过验证的量表。使用 Stata 版本 17 进行数据分析，使用 Pearson's Chi 和 Fisher's Exact 检验确定显著差异。
总体而言，从第一次调查到第二次调查，报告 GAD（46.3%至 23.2%）或抑郁（37.8%至 26.8%）的比例有所改善；焦虑症状的改善最大。持续的抑郁与持续的倦怠、社会支持的变化和每周工作天数有关。
在最初的疫情应对期间，公共卫生工作者经历了焦虑和抑郁的高发期，但在疫苗广泛普及后的次年，这些症状有所减轻。然而，仍需要为公共卫生专业人员提供持续的工作场所心理健康支持，以解决倦怠问题，并提供工作之外的额外情感支持。
