Prevalence of Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in HCW in Kosovo during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Fatime Arenliu Qosaj (), Stevan Merrill Weine, Pleurat Sejdiu, Fekrije Hasani, Shukrije Statovci, Vigan Behluli and Aliriza Arenliu
Additional contact information
Fatime Arenliu Qosaj: Master Program in Healthcare Management, College AAB, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Stevan Merrill Weine: Center for Global Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Pleurat Sejdiu: Kosovo Medical Chamber, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Fekrije Hasani: Alma Mater Europaea, Campus College Rezonanca, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Shukrije Statovci: Psychiatry Clinic, Kosovo Hospital University Clinical Services, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Vigan Behluli: Kosovo Association of Psychologists, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Aliriza Arenliu: Department of Psychology, Prishtina University, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: A pandemic may have a negative impact on healthcare workers’ (HCW) mental health. In this cross-sectional study, we assess the self-reported prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression and identify their predictive factors among HCW in Kosovo. The online questionnaire collected data on socio-demographics (sex, age, occupation, education, workplace) and the presence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress through the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and linear logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Of the 545 respondents, the majority were male (53.0%), under 60 years of age (94.7%), and married (81.7%). Most of them were physicians (78.2%), while the remaining were nurses, midwives, and other health professionals (22%). Prevalence rates for moderate to extremely high stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were 21.9%, 13.0%, and 13.9%, respectively. The nurses reported significantly higher mean scores for depression and anxiety than the physicians ( p < 0.05). Being married, having poor health, not exercising, and reporting “burnout” from work significantly predicted higher levels of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms among health workers ( p < 0.05). Most HCWs (71.6%) reported a mild, moderate, or severe mental health burden, and certain factors predicted higher levels of such burden.

Keywords: health care worker; COVID-19; pandemic; mental health; depression; anxiety; stress; risk factors; protective factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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