BACKGROUND: Health care workers are exposed to high stress levels and psychosocial risks. The imbalance between the invested efforts and received rewards acquires special importance in this setting. AIM: To assess the psychosocial risk level and its relationship with depression, distress and psychotropic drug use among health care workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred eighty two workers (602 females; 180 males) answered self-administered questionnaires to measure psychosocial risk and mental health. RESULTS: Twenty five percent of respondents used psychotropic drugs, 34% had a high level of distress and 23% had depressive symptoms. They also reported a low level of decisional latitude (48%), high emotional demands (47%), low social support (41%) and a significant effort-reward imbalance (67%). Those exposed to job strain (high demands and low decisional latitude), iso-strain (job strain plus low social support), and effort-reward imbalance were twice as likely to suffer symptoms of depression and elevated distress compared to non-exposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS: There are high levels of psychosocial stress among health care workers.
BACKGROUND: Health care workers are exposed to high stress levels and psychosocial risks. The imbalance between the invested efforts and received rewards acquires special importance in this setting. AIM: To assess the psychosocial risk level and its relationship with depression, distress and psychotropic drug use among health care workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred eighty two workers (602 females; 180 males) answered self-administered questionnaires to measure psychosocial risk and mental health. RESULTS: Twenty five percent of respondents used psychotropic drugs, 34% had a high level of distress and 23% had depressive symptoms. They also reported a low level of decisional latitude (48%), high emotional demands (47%), low social support (41%) and a significant effort-reward imbalance (67%). Those exposed to job strain (high demands and low decisional latitude), iso-strain (job strain plus low social support), and effort-reward imbalance were twice as likely to suffer symptoms of depression and elevated distress compared to non-exposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS: There are high levels of psychosocial stress among health care workers.
Authors: Amália Ivine Santana Mattos; Tânia Maria de Araújo; Maura Maria Guimarães de Almeida Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2017-05-15 Impact factor: 2.106