Individual and Occupational Risk Factors Related to Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Hospital Nurses during COVID-۱۹: A Cross Sectional Study

Background and aim: Work-related depression, anxiety and stress can lead to considerable physical and emotional symptoms and increased absenteeism in nurses. Covid-۱۹ pandemic can have a substantial impact on physical and psychological work demands and conditions experienced by nurses in hospital environment. The purpose of this study was to determine personal and work environmental risk factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress among hospital nurses.Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was performed from October to the December ۲۰۲۰. Data from ۸۳۱ nurses working in four educational hospitals were compiled through survey questionnaires including Iranian version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-۲۱) Inventory, measuring nurses’ perceptions of depression, anxiety and stress syndrome, perceived work demand under the COVID-۱۹ condition, and measures of nurses’ characteristics. Descriptive analyses of data were used and spearman’s correlation models evaluated the relationship between individual and work-related factors and DASS.Results: Around half of the participants indicated moderate symptoms of work-related depression, anxiety and stress. High frequent depression symptoms were observed in intensive care unit (%۳۲.۱), Internal and gynecology (%۱۹.۸). Age (r=۰.۱۹, p=۰.۰۲) and years of work as nurses (r=۰.۲۴, p=۰.۰۴) were directly correlated with anxiety. In addition, depression score had a significant and positive association with anxiety and stress.Conclusion: Findings clearly indicated a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms particularly emotional exhaustion among hospital nurses. Occupational health services should consider burnout as occupational-related conditions and provide interventions to reduce workplace chronic stressors and depression in hospitals.

Keywords:

Depression , anxiety , stress , risk factors , hospital nurses