The Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression Levels with Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Health Care Workers During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly, locally and internationally after it started in Hubei province of China in December 2019. During the spread of this infectious disease in the world, health care workers are taking place as the main people in the screening and treatment of the disease. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between anxiety and depression levels with perceived stress and coping strategies in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this study, 200 participants were included. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BDI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) were applied. Results: Mean scores for BDI and BAI were 9.2±8.9 and 8.2±9.2, respectively. BDI scores of 33 (16.5%) of 200 participants were ≥17. 62% of the participants had minimal depression, 21.5% of the participants had mild depression, 13.5 % of the participants had moderate depression, and 3% of the participants had severe depression according to BDI scores. 60.5% of the participants had minimal anxiety, 25.5% of the participants had mild anxiety, 8.5% of the participants had moderate anxiety and 5.5% of the participants had severe anxiety according to BAI scores. BAI and BDI scores of the female participants were statistically higher than the male participants. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between BAI and BDI scores and PSS-10 scores. A statistically significant difference was found in the averages of BAI and BDI, PSS-10 COPE 3 (Focus on and venting of emotions), 7 (Religious coping) and 13 (Acceptance) subscales levels in occupational groups. A statistically significant difference was found in BDI levels in the clinical units during the pandemic. Conclusion:This study indicated that different coping strategies can be used in health care workers regarding anxiety, depression and stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. While problem-solving and emotion-focused adaptive coping mechanisms help reduce symptoms, maladaptive and negative coping mechanisms can cause symptoms to exacerbate. Thus, training should be given to developing attitudes of health care workers to cope with stress.

Associations between Personality Traits, Intolerance of Uncertainty, Coping Strategies, and Stress in Italian Frontline and Non-Frontline HCWs during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Multi-Group Path-Analysis

“…As for the association between coping strategies and perceived stress, in both groups, resorting to emotion-focused coping strategies (acceptance, seeking emotional support, humor, positive reframing, religion) was negatively related to perceived stress, whereas the dysfunctional one was positively linked to stress. The first association we identified, according to which emotion-focused coping strategies are linked to lower level of perceived stress, thus functioning as a protective factor against negative psychological outcomes, is consistent with the results of many other studies on the general population during COVID-19 [106], as well as on HCWs before COVID-19 [107][108][109] and during it [110,111]. Similarly, also the second association we identified, according to which, on the contrary, dysfunctional coping strategies (behavioral disengagement, denial, self-blame, self-distraction, substance use) are linked to higher levels of perceived stress, is consistent with the results of many other studies [79,100,110], as well as in line with our expectations.…”

“…The first association we identified, according to which emotion-focused coping strategies are linked to lower level of perceived stress, thus functioning as a protective factor against negative psychological outcomes, is consistent with the results of many other studies on the general population during COVID-19 [106], as well as on HCWs before COVID-19 [107][108][109] and during it [110,111]. Similarly, also the second association we identified, according to which, on the contrary, dysfunctional coping strategies (behavioral disengagement, denial, self-blame, self-distraction, substance use) are linked to higher levels of perceived stress, is consistent with the results of many other studies [79,100,110], as well as in line with our expectations. Furthermore, consistently with the results of other works on Italian HCWs employed in facing COVID-19 during the first months of its spread [101,[112][113][114], we did not find positive associations between problem-focused coping strategies and stress reduction in both groups of HCWs.…”

Emergency Nurse Consensus on Most Effective and Accessible Support Strategies During COVID-19: A Delphi Study

“…These findings align with a multicenter study showing ED nurses preferred to cope by spending time with friends and family 13 . Another survey showed that for healthcare workers, relying on emotion-focused coping mechanisms may improve symptoms of anxiety and depression 26 . Furthermore, a 2020 scoping review on ameliorating interventions to reduce occupational stressors among ED staff indicated strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation aimed at ED healthcare workers reduced burnout, stress, and anxiety 27 .…”

Chain Mediation Model of Perceived Stress, Resilience, and Social Support on Coping Styles of Chinese Patients on Hemodialysis During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

“…The stress-response theory points out that when an individual is faced with a stressful event, the event will be perceived by the individual at first, and then the individual will make a preliminary assessment of the degree of stress caused by the stressful event, combine it with the experience and evaluation of other response resources, and finally produce corresponding coping behaviors [ 11 ]. Studies shows that positive and mature coping styles can improve the mental health of the general population [ 12 ]. Therefore, helping patients on MHD take an active response during the lockdown period to reduce the perceived stress has great significance in improving their mental health.…”