COVID-19 and the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals in Brazil: Associations between Social and Clinical Contexts and Psychopathological Symptoms

Maria do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega (), Moisés Kogien, Samira Reschetti Marcon, Angélica Martins de Souza Gonçalves, Marina Nolli Bittencourt, José Luís Cunha Pena, Maria Silvia Costa Silva, Darci Francisco Santos Junior, Dárcio Tadeu Mendes, Wanderson Carneiro Moreira, Suellen Cristina da Silva Chaves, Jheynny Sousa Alves, José Carlos da Silva Lins and Veônica de Medeiros Alves
Additional contact information
Maria do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Moisés Kogien: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78068-600, Brazil
Samira Reschetti Marcon: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78068-600, Brazil
Angélica Martins de Souza Gonçalves: School of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
Marina Nolli Bittencourt: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78068-600, Brazil
José Luís Cunha Pena: Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, Brazil
Maria Silvia Costa Silva: Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, Brazil
Darci Francisco Santos Junior: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78068-600, Brazil
Dárcio Tadeu Mendes: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Wanderson Carneiro Moreira: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Suellen Cristina da Silva Chaves: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Jheynny Sousa Alves: School of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
José Carlos da Silva Lins: School of Nursing, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57051-090, Brazil
Veônica de Medeiros Alves: School of Nursing, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57051-090, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an important negative psychological impact on people worldwide, especially nursing professionals who seem to be more vulnerable to the development of psychopathological symptoms. Objective: To analyze relationships between variables from the social and clinical contexts with psychopathological symptoms in nursing professionals from different geographic regions of Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 1737 nursing professionals from the five regions of Brazil. Data collection was carried out online with a questionnaire made available via Google Forms containing sociodemographic, occupational, and clinical questions, and the Symptom Assessment Scale-40-R, for the assessment of psychopathological symptoms. Differences between mean scores for the severity of psychopathological symptoms were assessed using the Mann–Whitney and Kruskall–Wallis tests. Results: There was a significant difference in the psychoticism domain scores according to Brazilian geographic region, with greater severity among professionals from the North and Northeast regions when compared with those from the South region. Social context variables (gender, age group, and marital status) and clinical variables (psychological and psychiatric follow-up; psychological or emotional support by the institution; family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker with COVID-19, and death among them; use of psychiatric medication without a medical prescription; and taking steps to take care of their mental health) were significantly related to psychopathological symptoms. Conclusions: The results point to the importance of mental health promotion strategies for professionals through psychological or emotional support, as evidence indicates that this support can be a predictor of reduced psychological distress.

Keywords: COVID-19; mental health; nursing; anxiety; depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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