Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Psychological distress among healthcare workers in Kabul following the 2021 transition
Shoaib Naeemi1,2, Sayed Murtaza Sadat Hofiani3, Ahmad Komail Frogh4
1Afghanistan Country Office, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Kabul, Afghanistan. shoaibnaeemi787@gmail.com.
Background:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) in conflict and post-conflict settings are particularly susceptible to psychological distress due to persistent occupational stress and limited systemic support. This study examined the prevalence of psychological distress among HCWs in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the wake of the political changes in August 2021.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from September to October 2021 in 16 public tertiary hospitals in Kabul. The Afghan Symptoms Checklist (ASCL) was used to assess psychological distress and its related symptoms. Multivariable analysis using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was performed to find the associated factors of psychological distress utilizing STATA 18.
Results:
A total of 277 HCWs participated in the study, with 48.4% identifying as female. Approximately 62% had considered leaving Afghanistan, and 64% had witnessed colleagues emigrate. The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 25% (CI 95%: 19.9-30.6), with stress-induced reactivity as the most prevalent symptom (35%, CI 95%: 29.8-41.4). Female HCWs were significantly more likely to report sadness with social withdrawal and somatic distress (POR = 2.32, CI 95%: 1.07-5.02, p = 0.03) and stress-induced reactivity (POR = 2.56, CI 95%: 1.22-5.44, p = 0.013). A lack of optimism about the future was associated with higher odds of stress-induced reactivity (POR = 3.14, CI 95%: 1.55-6.38, p = 0.001), ruminative sadness without withdrawal (POR = 3.05, CI 95%: 1.68-6.24, p = 0.002), and sadness with withdrawal and somatic distress (POR = 3.73, CI 95%: 1.71-8.13, p = 0.001).
Conclusion:
One in four HCWs reported psychological distress, with stress-induced reactivity being the most common symptom. Female gender and pessimism about the future were key associated factors of elevated distress. The findings highlight the critical need for long-term mental health support programs specifically designed for HCWs, broader support within the health system, and continued research into how HCWs cope and build resilience.
More Related Videos
12:22Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
Published on: July 1, 2015
06:04Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:21General State of Stress
Specifically, consider a tetrahedral element where one face, labeled XYZ, is perpendicular to the line OA, and the remaining faces align with the coordinate axes with point O as the origin. At any point, such as point O, the stress tensor can be used to determine the stress...
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle