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

Authors :
Tomohisa Nagata
Yoshihisa Fujino
Akiomi Inoue
Shinya Matsuda
Seiichiro Tateishi
Ayako Hino
Mayumi Tsuji
Hajime Ando
Hisashi Eguchi
Source :
Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 9 (2021), Frontiers in Public Health
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.

Abstract

Purpose: There is limited information about the association between workplace psychosocial factors and general worker mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study, we examined how anxiety about being infected by COVID-19 in the workplace affected the association between job demands and psychological distress (PD).Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2020. The final analyzed sample was 27,036. The dependent variable of PD was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Job demands were assessed using the Job Content Questionnaire. Feelings of anxiety were assessed by participants' responses to the following question: “Do you feel anxiety about being infected by COVID-19 in the workplace?” We used a two-level regression adjusting for prefectural level: each individual-level variable at level 1 was nested into each prefecture at level 2, stratified by presence of anxiety.Results: A total of 50.5% of participants felt anxious about being infected by COVID-19 in the workplace. The interaction between anxiety and job demands was significant. Job demands were positively associated with PD. In the stratified analysis, the associations were stronger among employees who experienced anxiety about COVID-19 infection in the workplace than among those who did not.Conclusion: The association between job demands and PD may be strengthened by anxiety about COVID-19 infection in the workplace.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22962565
Volume :
9
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Frontiers in Public Health
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....bd977c9b3f2ecd68bc466b75d849ea77