Predictors of university staff distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part I. Sociodemographic, occupational and pandemic factors

Abstract

Introduction and objective: To identify predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress within the sociodemographic, occupational, and COVID-19-related factors in the group of female and male university staff. Materials and methods: The study was conducted over six months (from March to August 2021) during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among university staff using the Google platform. The semi-structured questionnaire used in the study included sociodemographic data, pandemic experiences, stressors from remote teaching, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure mental health. Results: In the study, we questioned 1,015 university staff, including 68.3% women. The participants ranged from 22 to 82 years (M = 44.39 years, SD = 11.4). Significant differences were obtained between women and men regarding sociodemographic variables, concerns about COVID-19, and pandemic burdens. There was also a higher severity of anxiety assessed by the DASS-21 in women. Different models were obtained for the severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: Women had higher anxiety levels than men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of gender, mental health risk factors were chronic illness and younger age; protective factors – a higher level of education (academic degree) and being in a relationship (married or informal). For women, an additional protective factor was living in a small town and employing them as academic teachers. For men, a significant risk factor was the death of a familiar person due to COVID-19.