Comparison of Mental Health of Nurses and General Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Introduction: COVID-19 crisis can affect the mental health of individuals. Anxiety and depression are two of many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the anxiety and depression of nurses and the general population during the COVID -19 pandemic in Iran.Methods: The statistical population was all of the Tehran general population, and nurses were working in the Tehran province of Iran. A total of 2060 general population and 516 nurses completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).Results: The anxiety (8.73± 4.52) and depression (9.03±5.87) revealed that the anxiety and depression of nurses were mild. The anxiety (7.75±4.96) and depression (8.33±6.33) showed that the anxiety and depression of general participants were mild. The mean of anxiety in nurses was significantly higher than the general population (P=0.021). Also, the average anxiety in nurses was significantly higher than the general population (P=0.031).Conclusion: The anxiety and depression of emergency nurses are higher than the general population. It means they need more attention in supportive programs such as mental health-promoting interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparison of Mental Health of Nurses and General Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran Keywords:

mental health , General population , Nurses , COVID-19 , anxiety , depression