Journal
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
Volume 64, Issue 10, Pages 874-880Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002595
Keywords
depression and anxiety; education and socialwork; financial sector; occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk; overcommitment; public service sector; work-privacy conflicts
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This study examined the mental distress of employees in different sectors of Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that high and potential occupational infection risk was associated with more severe mental distress symptoms. The severity of mental distress was also related to work-privacy conflicts, perceived job protection, interactions with colleagues, and over commitment.
Objective: Mental distress of employees from the financial, public transport, public service, and industrial sector was examined in a cross-sectional study during the second COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) wave in Germany and retrospectively at its beginning. Methods: Mental distress in terms of anxiety and depression symptoms was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. High and potential occupational SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection risk (OSIR) was defined based on job information from 1545 non-health care workers. Results: The risks for more severe mental distress symptoms increased threefold and twofold, respectively, among employees with high and potential OSIR compared with employees without OSIR. Mental distress severity differed by the extent of work-privacy conflicts, perceived job protection, interactions with colleagues, and over commitment. Conclusions: Reducing COVID-19 exposure through workplace protective measures, strengthening interactions among colleagues, and supporting employees with work-privacy conflicts could help better protect employees' mental health.
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