Effect of Anxiety About COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace on the Association Between Job Demands and Psychological Distress

The effect of COVID-19 anxiety on nurses' productivity determinants through perceived workload and individual job performance: A Bayesian mediation analysis

This study aims to predict how COVID-19 anxiety affects productivity determinants by examining the role of perceived workload and individual job performance as mediators using Bayesian mediation analysis. To achieve the study's objectives, all nurses working at Imam Reza Hospital were recruited to participate. To gather data, all eligible and voluntary nurses were asked to complete questionnaires that included the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Individual Job Performance Questionnaire (IJPQ), NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and Workforce Productivity Questionnaire. Of the total number of nurses employed, 222 (126 women and 96 men) nurses fully completed the questionnaires. Out of these, 140 individuals were married and 82 were single. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the age and experience were 28.56 ± 5.78 and 8.49 ± 6.50, respectively. GeNIe software version 2.0 utilized to analyze the Bayesian network. The results showed that for the high COVID-19 anxiety and high workload states, with a probability of 100 %, the probability of high evaluation and high environment increased by 16.6 % and 16.3 %, respectively, but low evaluation and low environment decreased by 22.4 % and 22 %, respectively. In the high COVID-19 anxiety and low IJP states with a probability of 100 %, most change was related to the high ability (6 % increase), low evaluation (3.9 % increase), high incentive (3.8 % increase), low ability (4.6 % decrease) and low support (2 % decrease). Regarding COVID-19 anxiety (high 100 %), workload (high 100 %) and IJP (low 100 %), most of the increase was related to high environment and high evaluation by an increase of 17.3 and 17.2 %, respectively. Also, the value of low evaluation and low environment was reduced by 24 and 23.4 %, respectively. The study's findings confirm that nurses have been more productive during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite facing high workloads and the COVID-19 anxiety.

Protocol for a web-based study on the work environment and daily lifestyle of Japanese employees

Mental health problems are prevalent among the working population and must be resolved. We conducted a web-based large-scale study of workers, including a baseline survey and two follow-up surveys, to investigate the associations between self-care behaviors in daily life (e.g., stress coping, sleep, diet, and exercise), work environment improvements, and mental health among Japanese employees from various industries. In this protocol, we demonstrate the study design and demographic data of the participants in the baseline survey. Invitations to participate in this study were sent to 421,825 internet monitor registrants in February 2022. Overall, 20,000 registrants who met the inclusion criteria participated in the survey. There were large variations in occupations and working styles (e.g., physical work, night work, and teleworking) among the participants, and we also found significant differences between male and female participants in the demographic data. An overview of the survey data suggests that the demographic characteristics of the participants in this study are comparable to those reported in previous studies on Japanese employees. We plan to use these survey data in the future to examine the associations of daily lifestyles and work environments with the mental health of Japanese employees.

Formulations of Job Strain and Psychological Distress: A Four-year Longitudinal Study in Japan

Background

Different job strain formulations based on the Job Demand-Control model have been developed. This study evaluated longitudinal associations between job strain and psychological distress and whether associations were influenced by six formulations of job strain, including quadrant (original and simplified), subtraction, quotient, logarithm quotient, and quartile based on quotient, in randomly selected Japanese workers.

Methods

Data were from waves I and II of the Survey of Midlife in Japan (MIDJA), with a 4-year follow-up period. The study sample consisted of 412 participants working at baseline and had complete data on variables of interest. Associations between job strain at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up were assessed via multivariable linear regression, and results were expressed as β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals including R2 and Akaike information criterion (AIC) evaluation.

Results

Crude models revealed that job strain formulations explained 6.93-10.30% of variance. The AIC ranged from 1475.87 to 1489.12. After accounting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors and psychological distress at baseline, fully-adjusted models indicated significant associations between all job strain formulations at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up: original quadrant (β: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.12, 2.21), simplified quadrant (β: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.85), subtraction (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.70), quotient (β: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.67), logarithm quotient (β: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.72), and quartile based on quotient (β: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.36, 2.08).

Conclusion

Six job strain formulations showed robust predictive power regarding psychological distress over 4 years among Japanese workers.

Pathways between Adverse Change in Employment and Alcohol Use among U.S. Women during a Global Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Conformity to Masculine Norms

BACKGROUND

This study examined changes in reported alcohol use among women during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the relations to adverse changes in employment (e.g. job loss, furlough, reduced pay). Further, this study assessed how the relation between changes in alcohol use and experiencing an adverse change in employment was moderated by four theoretically relevant dimensions of conformity to masculine norms (CMNI, i.e. risk-taking, winning, self-reliance, and primacy of work).

METHODS

The sample for the present study is a subset of a survey that was conducted in the spring of 2020 among U.S. adults and includes 509 participants who met the inclusion criteria. We assessed pandemic-related employment change status, changes in reported frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed, and four CMNI dimensions. Relations between these variables were assessed with a multinomial logistic regression path model.

RESULTS

Experiencing an adverse change in employment early in the pandemic was related to increased alcohol use when moderated by the CMNI dimension primacy of work. For people higher on primacy of work, an adverse change in employment was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting an increase in frequency, but not quantity, of drinking (rather than a decrease or no change). Not experiencing an adverse change in employment early in the pandemic was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting an increase for quantity but not frequency.

CONCLUSION

The results highlight the importance of considering how work-oriented women may be at risk for increasing alcohol use when confronted with changes in work status.

Anxiety among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a case-control study from a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia

Introduction

Anxiety has been increasingly recognized as part of the psychosocial health issues in COVID-19 patients. However, the impact of this topic may be underestimated in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors of anxiety in COVID-19 patients compared to controls in a local tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Methods

In this case-control study, we analyzed data on adult patients aged 18 years and above hospitalized for COVID-19 infection with matched hospitalized controls. The demographic, clinical data and anxiety measures using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

86.6% in the COVID-19 group had anxiety, significantly higher than 13.4% in the control group (p = 0.001). The COVID-19 group was significantly associated with the GAD-7 severity (p = 0.001). The number of COVID-19 patients in the mild, moderate, and severe anxiety groups was 48 (84.2%), 37 (86%), and 18 (94.7%), respectively. Multiple logistic regression showed significant predictors for anxiety, including COVID-19 diagnosis and neurological symptoms. Anxiety was found 36.92 times higher in the patients with COVID-19 compared to those without COVID-19 (OR 36.92;95% CI 17.09, 79.78, p = 0.001). Patients with neurological symptoms were at risk of having anxiety (OR 2.94; 95% CI 1.03, 8.41, p = 0.044).

Discussion

COVID-19 patients experience a significant disruption in psychosocial functioning due to hospitalization. The burden of anxiety is notably high, compounded by a diagnosis of COVID-19 itself and neurological symptomatology. Early psychiatric referrals are warranted for patients at risk of developing anxiety symptoms.

Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Local Public Health Workers in New York State

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the challenges public health workers have faced is critical to reinforcing, revitalizing, and strengthening the public health workforce. We measured and identified the level and causes of psychological distress among public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York State.

METHODS

We used a knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors survey to ask public health workers at local health departments about their experiences working in public health during the pandemic, including questions relating to harassment from the public, workload, and work/life balance. We used the Kessler-6 scale to measure participants' psychological distress using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress. We calculated descriptive statistics and conducted a regression analysis to determine the factors associated with public health worker psychological distress, and we coded open-ended comments for qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

During September 7-20, 2021, 231 public health workers from 38 local health departments completed the survey. Respondents were predominantly non-Hispanic White (89.6%), female (82.1%), full-time employees (95.1%), and located in Upstate New York. On a bivariate level, the strongest predictor of distress was job satisfaction (-0.388), followed closely by COVID-19 fatigue (0.386) and feeling bullied or harassed by the public (0.331). In the regression analysis, 2 additional factors were associated with distress: considering leaving their job due to the pandemic and concerns about exposure. Themes from the qualitative analysis strongly supported these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the challenges public health workers have faced during the pandemic is critical to inform the actions needed-stronger state laws protecting against harassment, workforce incentives, and commensurate funding-to reinforce and revitalize our frontline public health workforce.

The Impact of Working from Home on Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Canadian Worker's Mental Health during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a considerable expansion in the way work settings are structured, with a continuum emerging between working fully in-person and from home. The pandemic has also exacerbated many risk factors for poor mental health in the workplace, especially in public-facing jobs. Therefore, we sought to test the potential relationship between work setting and self-rated mental health. To do so, we modeled the association of work setting (only working from home, only in-person, hybrid) on self-rated mental health (Excellent/Very Good/Good vs. Fair/Poor) in an online survey of Canadian workers during the third wave of COVID-19. The mediating effects of vaccination, masking, and distancing were explored due to the potential effect of COVID-19-related stress on mental health among those working in-person. Among 1576 workers, most reported hybrid work (77.2%). Most also reported good self-rated mental health (80.7%). Exclusive work from home (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI: 1.90, 4.07) and exclusive in-person work (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI: 1.83, 4.26) were associated with poorer self-rated mental health than hybrid work. Vaccine status mediated only a small proportion of this relationship (7%), while masking and physical distancing were not mediators. We conclude that hybrid work arrangements were associated with positive self-rated mental health. Compliance with vaccination, masking, and distancing recommendations did not meaningfully mediate this relationship.

Job stress and loneliness among desk workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: focus on remote working

Background

Previous studies have reported an increase in loneliness since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but there are few data on the relationship between job stress and loneliness. This study aimed to assess the relationship between job stress and loneliness among desk workers, with a focus on the impact of remote working.

Methods

This study was part of the Collaborative Online Research on the Novel-coronavirus and Work (CORoNaWork) project in Japan. We extracted data from 13,468 workers who indicated that they were doing desk work. Loneliness was assessed using a single question and job stress was valuated using the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Multiple logistic regression was performed.

Results

Participants who worked remotely 4 or more days per week were marginally more likely to report feeling lonely compared with those who did not work remotely (adjusted odds ratio = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.99–5.84, P = 0.066). Remote working did not explain the interaction between JCQ scale scores and loneliness. Among remote workers, the level of support provided by co-workers and supervisors was strongly associated with feelings of loneliness as well as non-remote workers (co-worker support: AOR = 4.06, 95% CI: 2.82–5.84, P < 0.001; supervisor support: AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.79–3.47, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

To reduce loneliness and the risk of associated mental health problems, high-frequency remote workers should interact with supervisors and co-workers using the information and communication technology developed for this purpose.

Effect of Working from Home on the Association between Job Demands and Psychological Distress

Limited information is available regarding the association between workplace psychosocial factors and general mental health status among workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study examined how working from home affected the association between job demands and psychological distress (PD). A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2020 (N = 27,036). The dependent variable (PD) was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Job demands were assessed using the Job Content Questionnaire. Working from home was determined by participants’ responses to the question, “Do you currently work from home?” We used a two-level regression analysis adjusted for prefecture. Each individual-level variable at Level 1 was nested into each prefecture at Level 2, stratified by working from home or not. Overall, 21.3% of participants worked from home. The interaction between working from home and job demands was significant. Job demands were positively associated with PD. The stratified analysis indicated that the associations were weaker among employees who worked from home compared with those among employees who did not. The association between job demands and PD may be weakened by working from home.

COVID-19 in the Workplace in Indonesia

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic because of its worldwide spread. The COVID-19 pandemic does not only impact public health but also the operations of businesses and workers’ safety in their workplace. The objectives of this study were to provide a broad perspective of COVID-19 prevention and control implementation in industries, investigate barriers and challenges as well as drivers in implementing COVID-19 prevention and control, and provide key recommendations to the policy makers regarding COVID-19 prevention and control in industries. This study was conducted through online interviews with selected organizations in various industries which were selected by the granting body, including agriculture and animal husbandry; construction; manufacturing; and logistic and goods transportation. It also involved policy makers from government agencies including the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Health, Indonesian Safety and Health Council, International Labor Organization, and Indonesian COVID-19 Task Force. The participants of this study were chosen using convenience sampling. The findings of this study indicate that health protocols are implemented to varying degrees in companies, both within and across the sectors, and that drivers to comply with the Health Protocols include compliance, business continuity, and top management commitment. The significant barriers and challenges include a perceived lack of clear direction from the government, rapid changes in directives’, poor worker awareness, and limited organizational resources. The key recommendations to the policy maker include harmonization of the guidelines and legislation, additional schemes to provide funding in the COVID-19 prevention and control implementation, as well as facilitate the ongoing education of the general working public.

Telework and Mental Health during COVID-19

COVID-19 has come to change societal organization. Due to lockdowns, work typologies have been rethought and telework has gained strength. However, the impact of the constant use of information and communication technologies on the mental health of workers needs to be considered. We aimed to investigate the impact of different work conditions on mental health, to which end we disseminated an online questionnaire during lockdowns to assess imagined surveillance, mobile maintenance expectation, communication overload, feelings of entrapment, depression, anxiety, stress, and flourishing in four groups (employed in telework, employed on-site, employed in layoff, and unemployed). We computed mean comparisons and serial mediations. We show that depression and anxiety were more prevalent in women; parents flourished more than people without children; and people with a higher level of education feel more entrapment. Crucially, we show that telework was associated with imagined surveillance and communication overload, which mediated the association with mobile maintenance expectations and entrapment (which was exacerbated by parenthood), impacting mental health and the quality of life. However, this was also partially observed in the remaining work conditions. Finally, flourishing worked as a protector against mental health issues in all work conditions. We discuss this given the massification of digital migration.

Workplace infection prevention control measures and work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic among Japanese workers: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to assess the effect of appropriate workplace IPC measures on employees' work engagement. It could be important to note how workplace infection prevention control (IPC) measures for COVID-19 contribute to positive mental health among workers. We hypothesized that if workplace IPC measures are adequately implemented, they would have a positive effect on employees' work engagement.

METHODS

We conducted an internet-based prospective cohort study from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021 (follow-up after 1 year) using self-administered questionnaires. At baseline, 27036 workers completed the questionnaires, while 18 560 (68.7%) participated in the one-year follow-up. After excluding the 6578 participants who changed jobs or retired during the survey period, or telecommuted more than 4 days per week, 11 982 participants were analyzed. We asked participants about the implementation of workplace IPC measures at baseline and conducted a follow-up using a nine-item version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9).

RESULTS

Four groups were created according to the number of workplace IPC measures implemented. The mean (SD) UWES-9 score of the "0-2" group was the lowest at 18.3 (13.2), while that of the "8" group was the highest at 22.6 (12.6). The scores of the "3-5," "6-7," and "8" groups were significantly higher than that of the "0-2" group (all, p < .001). The p trend of the four groups was also significant (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Promoting workplace IPC measures improves workers' work engagement, and a dose-response relationship exists between workplace IPC measures and work engagement.