School of Criminal Justice, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China.
School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China.
Front Public Health. 2023 Aug 3;11:1218825. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1218825. eCollection 2023.
This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression-along with the potential risk and protective factors-among Chinese prison officers during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
A cross-sectional survey of 1,268 officers from five prisons in western and southern China was administered between June and July 2022. The questionnaires comprised two sections. In the first section, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression, respectively, among prison officers. In the second section, the potential influencing factors were examined. Categorical data were compared using χ tests and -tests; binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression.
The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression among the prison officers were 72.6% and 69.8%, respectively. Risk factors for anxiety were older age, being unmarried, work-family conflicts, job demands, and COVID-19 burnout; protective factors were exercise, positive family relationships, and group cohesion. Work-family conflicts, job demands, intolerance of uncertainty regarding COVID-19, and COVID-19 burnout were risk factors for depression, whereas annual income >150,000 RMB, exercise, positive family relationships, group cohesion, and job autonomy were protective factors against depression.
The prevalence of anxiety and depression among Chinese prison officers was relatively high during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and more targeted measures should be implemented to improve their mental health. This study offers a reference for improving prison officers' mental health in response to similar public health emergencies in the future.
本研究调查了在 COVID-19 大流行期间，中国监狱官员中焦虑和抑郁的普遍程度以及潜在的风险和保护因素。
2022 年 6 月至 7 月期间，对来自中国西部和南部五所监狱的 1268 名官员进行了横断面调查。问卷包括两部分。在第一部分中，使用广泛性焦虑障碍 7 项量表（GAD-7）和患者健康问卷 9 项量表（PHQ-9）分别评估监狱官员的焦虑和抑郁发生率。在第二部分，检查了潜在的影响因素。使用 χ 检验和 t 检验比较分类数据；采用二元逻辑回归分析识别与焦虑和抑郁相关的因素。
监狱官员的焦虑和抑郁发生率分别为 72.6%和 69.8%。焦虑的危险因素是年龄较大、未婚、工作家庭冲突、工作要求和 COVID-19 倦怠；保护因素是锻炼、积极的家庭关系和群体凝聚力。工作家庭冲突、工作要求、对 COVID-19 的不确定性容忍度和 COVID-19 倦怠是抑郁的危险因素，而年收入>150,000 元、锻炼、积极的家庭关系、群体凝聚力和工作自主性是预防抑郁的保护因素。
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，中国监狱官员的焦虑和抑郁发生率相对较高，应采取更有针对性的措施改善他们的心理健康。本研究为未来应对类似公共卫生紧急情况时改善监狱官员的心理健康提供了参考。
