Revealing Distress and Perceived Stress among Dentists at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Factor Analytic Study

Kenneth S. Serota, Bálint Andó, Katalin Nagy and Ildikó Kovács
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Kenneth S. Serota: Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
Bálint Andó: Department of Psychiatry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
Katalin Nagy: Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged Tisza L. Krt, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
Ildikó Kovács: Department of Psychiatry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: Dentists’ perceptions about the stressfulness of clinical practice are well-documented, but literature on perceived stress and psychological distress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. This study aims to explore the emotions and attitudes, and the socio-demographic, dental, and COVID-related factors that are associated with the emergence of perceived stress and psychological distress that have been experienced by dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. General demographic and dental-related data, and specific questions measuring the potential factors regarding dental professionals’ concerns and opinions about their professional circumstances during the pandemic, were electronically collected from 182 dental practitioners. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess whether dentists’ emotions and attitudes during the pandemic measure the same construct: psychological distress, while linear regression models were built on the exploration of the effects of COVID-related factors on perceived stress and psychological distress. Facets of impulsiveness, lack of interest in social connections, emotional disengagement, mood swings, and acknowledgment of emotional exhaustion due to the pandemic, were measurements of the same construct and manifested in a singular factor: psychological distress. Two aspects, the fear of aerosol propagation and insecurities of financial status, increased the likelihood of the emergence of heightened levels of perceived stress and distress, while years spent in dental practice and age seemed to be protective factors against perceived stress and distress.

Keywords: perceived stress; psychological distress; COVID-19; dentists (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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